NOUMENOISE

        photo from Wiese's Bandcamp page    UPDATE: CANCELLED          Braving the Polar Vortex, Los Angeles-based experimental noise artist John Wiese will be making his way to Buffalo's west side Wednesday evening, for what is sure to be a captivating live performance.         A true veteran artist in the world of sound-art, Wiese has been a part of the noise scene for the last twenty-five years. He has the striking ability to create narrative stories told only through sound effects, and is an expert in the creation of profound experiences using original sound-elements and abstract forms of communication that exist outside the realm of music. His latest LP, "Escaped Language" ( available on bandcamp ), is a balanced creation of a gentle yet abrasive soundscape.         Wiese will be performing at Sugar City (1239 Niagara St, Buffalo) along with some of our favorite local artists, God of Gaps (harsh noise/ power electronics), Icky Reels (experimental electro

photo taken from Gray's Anatomy of the Human Body (public domain)        While at first it may seem out of place in a noise blog, often musicians, sound artists, and listeners alike overlook the most important part of any musical experience: the human ear. An incredible piece of machinery, this complex, multipart system creates the perception we know as sound simply from vibrations in the air, but how do we get from air vibrations to the visceral emotion elicited by a favorite piece of music or sound art? The answer lies in both physical conduction and neural sensation.         Though this information can be found in many textbooks, Peter W. Alberti’s World Health Organization (WHO) article, “The Anatomy and Physiology of the Ear” provides an in-depth look at how hearing works.         The human ear can be divided into three parts: the outer ear, the middle ear, and the inner ear. The outer and middle ear deal primarily with continuing the resonances of air vibrations, phys