Sarcoplasmic/Myofibrillar by Hypertrophy

Born from the ashes of Saunders’s long-running noise project E.I.D., Hypertrophy was inspired by his observation that strength sports and noise both demand the same single-minded obsession with going beyond the limits of what “outsiders” consider healthy.


As a statement of intent, Sarcoplasmic/Myofibrillar immediately demonstrated Hypertrophy’s strong alignment between concept, process, and sound, with ‘80s-style tape loops and ‘90s intensity grinding against ‘00s density in a protein-rich blend. After nearly three decades making noise, and with powerlifting becoming his other primary activity, Saunders created the debut tape in what he describes as “a virtuous cycle where I was lifting and thinking about noise and making noise and thinking about lifting.” Hypertrophy’s new thematic concerns came with a shift in methodology toward an increased focus on sampling, reprocessing, and recycling raw sound created with pedals, synths, and field recordings, with elements from every stage of the process audible throughout Sarcoplasmic/Myofibrillar, adapting the training concept of progressive overload to the sound itself.
 
Hypertrophy is a long-term regimen: Five years on from the original debut of the project, Saunders has explored themes of masculinity, injury, gender expression, mind-body relationships, and more through the project’s intensely focused lens over multiple releases and compilation appearances, even incorporating weightlifting into Hypertrophy’s live performances. (He’s also made considerable progress in his bench press, squat, and deadlift.) This CD reissue, remastered by Grant Richardson, features new liner notes by Saunders and includes as a bonus track a recording of the first Hypertrophy set at Bill's House in Broad Channel, NY on August 3, 2019. Get your reps in, again.

Note: the remastered audio and live track are available only on the CD version; the original cassette master is retained for the download version.

obsessed with sound

member of:
E.I.D. (1996-2017)
Dataclast (99-04)
Bastard Noise (2014-)
Hypertrophy (2019-)