Noise/Experimental: J James & The Resonance - We Have and We Will (2016)

6 / 100

We Have and We Will is an austere and challenging minimal release that leans heavily into emptiness and restraint.

J James & The Resonance fill the tenth day with a minimal music EP titled We Have and We Will, released on November 22, 2016. J James handles the vocals, while Karol Kowalski is responsible for recording and production, with Kasia Basia appearing as a guest on the track “Keening Peaks.”

I am somewhat confused by what is presented here, as the output is highly minimal and appears to involve very few instruments. The most striking piece is the opening track, “The Inverse Hawk in the Rain,” which comes across as lo-fi/chiptune. “Keening Peaks” then shifts into minimal noise, peaking with Kasia Basia’s scream, which is genuinely startling. The remainder consists of James’s soft whispers layered over minimal noise, requiring maximum volume to reveal their form and making me want to switch to Qur’anic recitation instead—especially during “Laughing Len.” Yes, it is somewhat dark and far too hollow to be appreciated as a whole.

Therefore, I think it is better to simply skip this EP and look for—or perhaps try—other releases by J James & The Resonance, as they are apparently still active in releasing new work.

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