Grim is the industrial/noise/power electronics/folk/experimental project of Jun Konagaya, one half of legendary industrial/noise act White Hospital. After having released a killer LP, 12”, and 7” in the 80s, Grim fell into relative obscurity until a 1999 compilation CD. In recent years Grim has become active (more active?) again, with a cassette in 2010 followed by two LPs last year, two recent compilation releases, and now the Beautiful Morning 7” out on Steinklang Industries. For those familiar with Grim’s initial output, Beautiful Morning will come as a bit of an oddity. While not wholly unexpected, the single’s two tracks sound distinctly different from Amaterasu or Message. “Beautiful Morning” combines industrial percussion, ambient synth, and vaguely PE vocals, highlighting Grim at its most rhythmic. “Beautiful Morning” is could be a better Cold Cave without the New Order worship. On the flip side, “Mountain Blood” features electronics that sound like an industrial version of Jana Winderen with Konagaya’s vocals adding to the growing unease. Essential listening from a true legend of Japanese industrial music, featuring one of 2014’s best tracks.