Murray Reams

About

Murray Reams. A brief, volatile flash in the late '80s. The sound of cassette tapes torn apart and reassembled into something unrecognizable. From 1988 to 1989, Reams unleashed six releases, each a testament to lo-fi chaos. InstruMENTAL (pope) (1989) and Soap Opera (1988) on Sound & Fury, and Instrumental Pope (1988) on Watergate Tapes, all crackle with abrasive tape manipulation and improvisational outbursts. The sound is visceral. Non-linear. Reams didn't play by the rules. Didn't care to. Labels like Sound & Fury and Watergate Tapes were the perfect homes for Reams' disruptive spirit. Heaven Is Here (1988), released on Trial By Music, showcases the raw, textural landscapes Reams constructed. Each release more confrontational than the last. This wasn't music for the faint-hearted. It was unrelenting, demanding you confront every turn, every jagged edge. Despite a short-lived career, Reams carved out a niche among similar experimentalists. A hidden gem for the few who dare to listen. The cassette format was his weapon of choice, each release a testament to his abrasive, cathartic vision. Chuck Upheaval, a shadowy presence, remains the only known collaborator in this sonic assault.