Worrytrain
Houston, Texas (later Chicago, Illinois), USA
Active since 2004
Genre: modern classical (neoclassical) noise; experimental noise
Worrytrain is the stage name for the American multi-instrumentalist and composer Joshua Neil Geissler. He became a cult figure in the underground noise scenes, who treated silence and noise with the same level of respect as a piano or a cello. Some say to listen to Worrytrain is to engage with trauma and beauty simultaneously, because he utilizes the concept of musical entropy. If a piano melody is beautiful, he feels the need to wound it with static or distortion. You are drawn to the melody, but the noise creates a barrier.
His sound is a fusion of neoclassical and experimental noise. It also shares techniques with post-rock, but it lacks traditional rock instrumentation such as bass and drums. A typical track begins with a delicate, melancholic piano melody or a weeping cello line, only to be gradually or suddenly submerged in waves of static and harsh noise. This contrast creates a cinematic and foggy atmosphere that feels both ancient and futuristic. Geissler’s use of the mandolin is unique in the scene - he uses it for sharp plucking that acts as a rhythmic substitute for drums.
Worrytrain operates as a low-profile, studio-centric project. He has avoided the traditional path of touring and heavy self-promotion, allowing the music to quietly surface through niche groups. His output was highly prolific between 2004 and 2007, during which he released four major works, after which the project went largely silent, cementing its ghost like legacy.
- "Worrytrain" (2004): The rawest expression of his style; more emphasis on the contrast between piano and harsh glitch.
- "Sleeping Through the Endtimes" (2006): A more atmospheric, ambient-leaning record.
- ''Fog Dance, My Moth Kingdom'' (2007): Generally considered his masterpiece. It is the most orchestral and thematic of his works.
- ''Destroy the Wall Street Sundial'' (2007): A darker follow-up that pushed the noise elements to their limit.
Similar to Jacaszek, Godspeed You! Black Emperor.