Noise Agency

Noise Agency are an experimental 2-piece that incorporate hypnotic loops and powerful layering with boundless manipulation of sound and instrumentation. In short, an experiment in how much racket two humans and their machines can make. The template would be Josh Faber-Hammond playing some furious breakbeats on a drum kit, while Arjuna Dingman lays down a foundation of bass guitar and soars into the stratosphere with vintage Dr. Who electronics. The overall mood reminds me of live “jamtronica” acts like Lotus or Eoto – humans jamming along with their machines, a cyborg melding of soul and precision. This set-up yields for revelatory live experiences and is tons of fun to dance yourself stupid, so don’t sleep! Both musicians sing and sample, and I can’t wait to figure out who does what, and how they pull it off live. - Redefine Magazine

Noise Agency are an experimental 2-piece that incorporate hypnotic loops and powerful layering with boundless manipulation of sound and instrumentation. In short, an experiment in how much racket two humans and their machines can make. The template would be Josh Faber-Hammond playing some furious breakbeats on a drum kit, while Arjuna Dingman lays down a foundation of bass guitar and soars into the stratosphere with vintage Dr. Who electronics. The overall mood reminds me of live “jamtronica” acts like Lotus or Eoto – humans jamming along with their machines, a cyborg melding of soul and precision. This set-up yields for revelatory live experiences and is tons of fun to dance yourself stupid, so don’t sleep! Both musicians sing and sample, and I can’t wait to figure out who does what, and how they pull it off live. - Redefine Magazine

[COMP RELEASE PARTY] Sonic Debris Multimedia is one of the most exciting yet least-known record labels working in Portland. The imprint’s steady stream of compilations wraps together an impressive array of daring sound, from the feathery prog of Noise Agency to the isolation-chamber synth beauty of Alien Parkinsons Project to Aaron Saloman’s one-man minimalist electro project, Ras Mix. Those three acts, as well as six others featured on the label’s latest compilation, will be performing tonight. If that weren’t incentive enough, SDM will be giving free copies of the new CD to all attendees. - Willamette Week

Dublin Down

Thanks to Noise Agency we were able to reach a new customer base. They were professional and a pleasure to work with. We noticed a big boost in our nightly sales, almost doubling our average during the nights they performed. We have been able to develop some new "regulars" at the bar we otherwise would not have been exposed to. Noise Agency has always done a great job with the lighting and sound at all their events. I would recommend booking Noise Agency and I look forward to doing business with them in the near future.
Brandon Smith
Owner, Dublin Down Irish Pub - Dublin Down

Dublin Down

Thanks to Noise Agency we were able to reach a new customer base. They were professional and a pleasure to work with. We noticed a big boost in our nightly sales, almost doubling our average during the nights they performed. We have been able to develop some new "regulars" at the bar we otherwise would not have been exposed to. Noise Agency has always done a great job with the lighting and sound at all their events. I would recommend booking Noise Agency and I look forward to doing business with them in the near future.
Brandon Smith
Owner, Dublin Down Irish Pub - Dublin Down

Music: Noise Agency – Commodore 64
Posted on May 6, 2013 by Robert Ham

Noise Agency‘s name seems to me to be something of a challenge to listeners. I’m sure the band simply means that this is a group that makes noise of one variety or other, but I like the idea of giving some people the expectation that what they are about to hear is an aural maelstrom. Because what they get is nothing of the sort; this duo is psychedelic freedom spilling about in great heaves. On this track, that includes robotic voices dancing through synth and drum jams concocted from the guts of the titular personal computer. - Experimental Portland

Music: Noise Agency – Commodore 64
Posted on May 6, 2013 by Robert Ham

Noise Agency‘s name seems to me to be something of a challenge to listeners. I’m sure the band simply means that this is a group that makes noise of one variety or other, but I like the idea of giving some people the expectation that what they are about to hear is an aural maelstrom. Because what they get is nothing of the sort; this duo is psychedelic freedom spilling about in great heaves. On this track, that includes robotic voices dancing through synth and drum jams concocted from the guts of the titular personal computer. - Experimental Portland

Noise Agency’s latest release OTIC is not for the faint of heart. It’s not a pick-me-upper at first glance. It’s not an “easy read,” if you will. But don’t let that deter you, for in its complexity there waits something wholly unique and refreshing.

They’ve combined ambient electronic melodies, snappy high-hats and simple drawn-out bass riffs in ways I’ve surely never heard before. OTIC immediately begs the question, how can two people perform this live?

But they do, and mostly while being accompanied by video art in the background. And this makes sense because they’re meant to be “experienced,” more than just “listened to.” And I do not use the term “experienced” lightly. Noise Agency is hauntingly evocative – ghostly even. So much so that at times I had to turn down the music to catch my breath. And this is a good thing. It means they forced me to care.

“Black Light” would be their single if they released one. It’s one of those songs that’s predictable enough to bob your head to, though it still holds true to Noise Agency’s M.O. and ends with a trippy crescendo of elongated reverberations.

Though OTIC’s opus is undoubtedly its finale. “Change of Season” ends the album as a 15-minute window into the duo’s creative minds. It starts as the most lyrical of any of the songs, though quickly devolves into a clamor of static, only to reappear later as a completely different song, which can only be described as “meditative.”

Even after listening to the album three full times in a row, I can’t quite get a grasp on the full spectrum of Noise Agency’s sound, but this too is a good thing. They’re eerie at times, and dark too, but also pleasingly trippy for those of us who enjoy these sorts of intense “experiences.” And I know I do. So if you’re up for the ride, OTIC will surely take you somewhere new.

Get updates on shows and buy the album at: www.noiseagencymusic.com/ - The Vancouver Vector

Noise Agency’s latest release OTIC is not for the faint of heart. It’s not a pick-me-upper at first glance. It’s not an “easy read,” if you will. But don’t let that deter you, for in its complexity there waits something wholly unique and refreshing.

They’ve combined ambient electronic melodies, snappy high-hats and simple drawn-out bass riffs in ways I’ve surely never heard before. OTIC immediately begs the question, how can two people perform this live?

But they do, and mostly while being accompanied by video art in the background. And this makes sense because they’re meant to be “experienced,” more than just “listened to.” And I do not use the term “experienced” lightly. Noise Agency is hauntingly evocative – ghostly even. So much so that at times I had to turn down the music to catch my breath. And this is a good thing. It means they forced me to care.

“Black Light” would be their single if they released one. It’s one of those songs that’s predictable enough to bob your head to, though it still holds true to Noise Agency’s M.O. and ends with a trippy crescendo of elongated reverberations.

Though OTIC’s opus is undoubtedly its finale. “Change of Season” ends the album as a 15-minute window into the duo’s creative minds. It starts as the most lyrical of any of the songs, though quickly devolves into a clamor of static, only to reappear later as a completely different song, which can only be described as “meditative.”

Even after listening to the album three full times in a row, I can’t quite get a grasp on the full spectrum of Noise Agency’s sound, but this too is a good thing. They’re eerie at times, and dark too, but also pleasingly trippy for those of us who enjoy these sorts of intense “experiences.” And I know I do. So if you’re up for the ride, OTIC will surely take you somewhere new.

Get updates on shows and buy the album at: www.noiseagencymusic.com/ - The Vancouver Vector