New Batch – Factotum Tapes
3.27.15 by Mike Haley

There are two undeniable truths about Matthew Reis. He has a HORRIBLE camera (just spend 30 seconds scoping the pics over at Factotum Tapes and you’ll see what I mean) and he’s a super essential cog in the Midwest raw noise gear. The dude is fervent about participating in / repping his hometown of Dayton’s dense experimental scene. Factotum’s releases are now in the triple digits, loaded with Reis’ various solo activity (Developer, Teeth Collection, etc.), one-off collabs, and splits with local jammers. Operations aren’t limited to the Dayton borders, but it’s obviously an important piece of the puzzle.

The Factotum style is straightforward. Black and white printing, shredded artwork, and white shells with no info on them. Meaning if you drop a bunch of his releases, and they spill all over the floor, like I did a few weeks back, you’re pretty much fucked. You have basically no chance at matching those unmarked tapes up with the proper cases, even if you listen to them. But that’s okay. Sometimes it’s okay to be fucked and deal with it. Why would you grip a Factotum batch if you weren’t prepared to be fucked, right?

Speaking of Factotum batches, there is a new one. Five tapes (plus a zine) are now available, and they’re just what you would expect. Reis pairs some desultory, cut-up Developer cruelty with Deceiver, Plagues, and Thirteen Fingers for three split C10’s swarming with crushing power electronics and intensely harsh noise. A C30 called “Remixes” where Developer and Tinnitustimulus swapped sounds back and forth. Chopping, looping, and manipulating until settling on this disorienting material. And finally an hour and a half cassette by Rowlands_Bobby, a duo featuring (you probably guessed it) Matthew Reis and Dayton’s Whoracle Of Delco.

Listen to each of these, in full, below. Order them from Factotum. Be fucked.