A big thank you to Chris Goudreau/Sickness for this nice review!

T.E.F./Bastard Noise
Astronomical Sound Images

Astronomical Sound Images is exactly that: two distinct sound images;
two different defined voices working together. You hear obvious sounds from
the synth and effects of Bastard Noise's Eric Wood and the cut up harsh
tracks of T.E.F.'s Kevin Novak. But this is the basis of any collaboration -
two artists working together to bring their sounds together. What sets this
recording so markedly apart from many other collabs is that while each
artist has a clear voice, defined style and sound, the combination, flow and
separation of all of these elements is astounding.

The sounds on this entire recording combine, merge, re-combine and
separate with such fluidity that its hard to believe these two have not
worked together before. The sounds meld into each so well at times that itÃÔ
hard to believe that this is a first effort (though one that has been in the
works for quite some time I believe). I hear very clear moments of both
artists, definitive sounds that telltale each person, their own
voices/projects that are at times stereo separated and at times mingling
together over and under each other. However the way in which all these
sounds and definitive styles work together and apart is what marks this
collaboration as unique. Styles flow and change from the ambient drone of
the Bastard noise style to T.E.F.'s cut-up looped and destroyed selections.
Wood's synth will break through over Novak's cut up sounds and loops then
become the background over which T.E.F.'s panning and noise bursts showcase.
As I said, it's the interplay between these two artists that makes this
recording so listenable. Wood's synth forms the base on top of which Kevin
loops, dissonant sounds, and cut up noise bursts. Then, smoothly, they
combine into a ambient drone with neither style being evident, both voices
disappear into something not entirely a part of either. No ones sounds being
standout, no style jumps out at the listener and just as easily as it
combined it builds back up to separate into the individual sounds and
voices. Neither one staying still or prominent for any length of time. No
one style becoming stagnant or lingering too long.

The overwhelming volume doesn't blow you away at first listen, nor are
you impressed by the pure power and harshness of the recording. This isn't
something that was thrown together or something that can be defined by a one
dimensional phrase or single standout trait (i.e. loud, harsh, etc.) All the
elements of both artists are there but it's the variation, combination and
flow of this recording that makes it amazing. Both artists use a wide array
of their signature talents and sounds to move the listener along and to
bring focus to the different parts of this album. This is noise as
construction and flow, as though these two have been working together for
years. This is noise as musical flow, and pattern without sounding over
worked or too constructed. I don't know how it was done, whose source that
really is, how many times it changed hands or who mixed what because it
doesn't matter. It stands as a great album. Period.
-Chris Goudreau
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best,
phil
http://www.iheartnoise.com