The recording studio remains indelible to The Body’s creative process. Working closely with Manchester, Buford often lays the framework for songs from the drums up, mirroring hip-hop production. I’ve Seen All I Need To See trades out 808s and The Body’s self-sampling for live instruments with a focus on expanding mutations of sound from more limited sources. The results are remarkably rich textural bombardments. Throughout, The Body delivers oppressive noise with potent lucidity, replicating the overwhelming sound of their live performances in revelatory detail.
I’ve Seen All I Need To See demonstrates not only The Body’s fearless spirit and vicious edge but their intellectual musical heft through its explorations of distorted sound and the power of distorted sounds’ interplay. Composer Roger Johnson said “Noise is power, but is generally represented as negative, chaotic, dangerous, violent when it comes… from those marginalized from power. Noise is also an expression of freedom, a ‘liberation of sound.’” The Body is a sound liberator capable of mining and extracting remarkable details from the most manipulated and distorted sound sources. I’ve Seen All I Need To See is a groundbreaking work and an ecstatic listen, whether seen as a testament to catharsis in oblivion, an opus of inexorable dread, or a wholly liberating adventure.