I'll admit this album comprises my inauguration into the world of Le Syndicat, the legendary French noise ('bruitist') troupe that has been self-issuing its menacing utterances since before I popped into this world. And I can't really compare this to rest of the band's prolific discography, but "Timespace Losses" – a collection of compilation appearances from 1985-1987, as well as a recording of the band's first performance circa 1982 – has served as a more than formidable introduction for my tastes.

The bilingual (English and Russian) liner notes to this behemoth give a fair glimpse into the ideology behind Le Syndicat's racket, underlining the fact that they were not into noise for its nihilism or negativity, but rather for the joy of toying with sound's capabilities. This platform is remarkably evident on the disc's tracks themselves, as there is a noticeable lack of malevolence behind these otherwise frequently abrasive recordings. Yes, even a track entitled "Dead Vulva" (off ZSF Produkt's "Sexorama Vol. 3" compilation), though layered in growly pedal noise, is hardly mean – instead, it seems wrapped up in contrasting chaotic roughness with a uniform beat and a high-pitched clinking. Perhaps some of the most boisterous exercises do mosey over into irate territory – particularly the last four compilation tracks, which employ plenty of squall and outrageous howling vocals – but, for the most part, one can't help but agree with the band's claim that noise, for them, was more rooted in joyful experimentation than frustrated catharsis.

For me, the most interesting compositions on this record are those which temper the brash noise assaults in favour of distinct textures and sounds. "Eternité" is a unique example – it establishes a gentle, melodic loop upon which the band layers a contorting stretch of effects-laden screaming and electronic torture. The juxtaposition between the fragility of the tape loop and the tetchy noisiness is what makes for a sublimely pulverizing listen. Similarly eclectic approaches are witnessed in the drum-machine torrent of "Sex and Vomit," the hypnotically minimal "Ritus Torture," and the strange dog-barkin' loop embedded in "Suck the Putrefied Kaiser 1."
Meanwhile, the recording of the band's first live performance – one of this disc's prime attractions – is remarkably tame by today's standards. No doubt partly as a result of the ultra-lo-fi recording conditions, the track is more ambient and soundscapey than it is abrasive or chaotic; ebbing radio transmissions, buried in static, form the background of the composition's expansive miasma of blustering sound, eliciting an ominous and hypnotic mood. At twenty-five minutes, it'll perhaps be a tad too long for all but the most diehard enthusiasts, but it's altogether an alluring recording whose value transcends mere archival fetishism.

One of the early noise scene's prized pioneers, Le Syndicat are no doubt one of the genre's more curious attractions. Implementing a textural and stylistic originality that rivals the vast bulk of today's noise repertoire, the group skirts angry barbarism for a more experimental take on sonic chaos, and this is blissfully evident on the majority of "Timespace Losses." While this appealing compilation may be a tad disjointed, especially when compared to album releases, it has made for a fine introduction to the band from my vantage point. 9/10 -- Michael Tau (2 February, 2010)