Cult Love is thrilled to bring you the Natty Gray / Boar split tape. Not only does it host a member of Cult Love but Boar is easily one of our favorite noise projects of all time. Going back nearly a decade through the US noise scene together, this collision of worlds has been years in the making! Tulsa's notoriously noisiest boy meets Dubuque, IA cut up legend!

The Natty Gray / Boar split is highly juxtaposed stylistically while retaining a slight parallel through live performance material sourcing in their respective recordings. The contrast strongly emphasizes the strengths of either side and leaves the listening experience fresh and consistently engaging.

Natty Gray has been active in the mid-US noise scene since 2013. Wether as an artist, performer, promoter, releaser, hoster, etc. of noise, he has had his hands in a little of everything over the years. On the split, he creates a dirge-y, depressive noise amalgamation constructed from speed modulated organ recordings, lofi, cut in feedback loops, and blended cassette, mic, and di recording styles. Opening with a sample of a voice mail as organ simultaneously creeps in, his side initially feels reminiscent of dungeon synth and dark ambient, but too noisy and chaotic perhaps to ever truly qualify. The dirge eventually gives way to a sudden, brute onslaught of heavy, unpredictable electronics far more in vein with the traditional Natty Gray style. This portion goes as quickly as it comes though, with the track finally ending in an old recording of him performing in 2016 (KOTOR samples and all!) in his early, frantically-smashed-smash-box performance style. Complete with a pathetic audience applause ending, haha! Brooding, brutal, and nostalgia soaked with a discreet tongue-in-cheek wink. Recognizably Natty Gray but with a twist.

Boar is a legend at this point in the North American noise scene. A master of the cut up style, a true professional. His side of the split is as consistently incredible as everything he has put out, and another testimonial as to why he is one of the best to do it. A drum beat-esque opening immediately gives way to utterly punishing chopped noise that assaults the listener in a beautifully stereo manner, randomly shifting from left to right between periods of total silence then suddenly emerging in the center for full sonic submersion. The noise itself is rich, complex and frequently changing. Layers of finely crafted and collaged feedback, distortion, and ever modulating delay will keep listeners on their toes while satisfying the most obnoxiously pretentious "noise bro". The track winds down with a more rhythmic thrum, similar to its opening, before smoothly transitioning in to a live excerpt of a 2014 era Boar performance.

Despite sharply contrasting styles, Natty Gray and Boar's material seem to meet in their endings and compliment each other throughout in their differences. An eclectic, strong split with superb material from either artist. Highly recommended to any fan of noise and experimental music.