SYNAESTHESIA: Embody
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1995 Cleopatra / Hypnotic
Time for some good old-fashioned discussion of music.
Sorry to say that I can't think of any recent ambient records that
move me much, but then again, maybe I am just not buying enough
records.
An older gem of dark ambient dub (not older compared to Bach, but
older compared to our ridiculously hyperatrophied attention spans).
BIll Leeb and Rhys Fulber (Front Line Assembly, Delerium, Will, etc)
bring us on another menacing and enthralling voyage into inner and
outer space.
You can play "ID that sample", or you can just enjoy the ride. The
seven pieces are long and slow to develop, ranging from seven to
eleven minutes in length. One might say that some of the works
overstay their welcome; however, the attentive listener is rewarded
with a depth of creative arranging and continuously evolving sound
design and inspired sample theft (one would hope that original artist
permissions were granted, but somehow I think this unlikely).
Headphones recommended.
Some comments on a few of the fave tracks:
"Outland", a stand-out track, begins with spacey bachelor pads, loops
of African percussion and chants, and then evolves into a heavy dub
groove. Prominently featured is a seductive single sustained syllable
sample from the golden voice of Englindia chanteuse Sheila Chandra.
Chill-inducing.
"Alien Intruder" shamelessly pilfers FSOL, the shameless pilferers
par excellence (who refer to themselves as "pickpockets"). A wicked
nasty overweight bassline drives the song into sci-fi trajectory,
repeats a few too many times, but this is the age of excess and the
land of obesity, so be it.
"New Horizons" uses a Dead Can Dance percussion layer to good effect.
Moody pads and a slow tempo suggest the set of "Silent Running". Then
again, what the hell am I talking about?
"Hemisphere" has always been my fave ditty on this record, and one of
the best catchy little tunes Sirs Leeb and Fulber have ever
pseudo-produced. Begins very slowly with drones of ships lost at
sea, eventually a relentlessly slow percussive rhythm emerges from
the fogs, and builds, and builds, and builds, with reversed loops of
"When the Levee Breaks", until finally, the insistent and rather
brilliant bassline comes in and takes over at 3:35. The forward
"Levee" loop joins with arpeggios and deepening synth strata as new
drum and percussion layers alternate and evolve.
Those who know this record, probably know its charms. Those who do
not, and who enjoy the darker side of ambient dub, would probably do
well to check it out.
Cheers,
3
METASONICA
www.metasonica.com
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