- Terry McGaughey
- Albums and Singles
'The Visitors' is a constantly evolving, shape-shifting work that moveselegantly (or uncomfortably) between a state of grace and the struggleto hold onto that grace. "Brightness falls from the air" makes thisnotion explicit from the outset, the unsettled rumbling giving way hereand there to gentle swathes of melody and hideously warped keyboards.It shudders and vibrates at the same time, and is a devastatingcombination: the celestial is both welcomed and feared. Similarly for"The body feels light and wants to fly"; the sounds are so subdued, thestructure so viscous and arrested, that once it breaks free andactually flies, the listener is tempted to gulp for air.
"If you want to see that nothing is left" wraps its pulsing, subduedelectronic textures around a spiralling string section, each strugglingto overpower the other. In the end though, its the organic, bodilyaspect — the strings — that win. "Replaced by his constellation"literally replaces itself over and over, in an endlessly buildingserenade that could be mounting orgasm or encroaching panic; and whenit suddenly breaks free into a shimmering set of harmonies you realiseit is the former.
The apprehension and threat of Luminous Darkness is replaced by abarely restrained infra-music that seems constantly at the brink ofmetamorphosising onto a new plane that Cyclobe themselves can't forsee.The Visitors vibrates and crackles.
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- Juan Croucier
- Albums and Singles
The disc glides along with gorgeous vocal accompaniment from Mia DoiTodd, Benjamin Gibbard (Death Cab For Cutie), Chris Gunst, MeredithFigurine and Rachel Haden (That Dog). Thrown into the mix are alsoBrian McMahan of Slint/For Carnation fame (offering about two chordsworth of guitar on a track) and Paul Larson of Tamborello's formerband, Strictly Ballroom, on guitar. So what does all this do for thesound? A whole hell of a lot, apparently. Tamborello expertly chopsefficient phrases of vocals, guitars and keyboards into nearly flawlesspop songs that rival anything to come out this year. This is at themoment in my Top 10 for the year, just for the Mia Doi Todd andBenjamin Gibbard contributions alone.
It's fitting that most of the lyrics are in some way or another aboutlove. When Mia Doi Todd sings "How can you love me if you don't loveyourself / I love you," you just want to tear what's left of your heartout and hand it to Tamborello because you just know at this point thathe's going to make something better out of it. If you give a shit aboutRadiohead, Four Tet, Lali Puna or Boards of Canada, then you canrightly have your heart crushed and your mind blown for about $14 atyour local record store. Just look for the ambulance.
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- Administrator
- Albums and Singles
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- Albums and Singles
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- Albums and Singles
Peaceful, serene, warm and endearing. I wonder if there's a farm where Thomas Morr harvests all the prettiest electronic music composers. Although Schnauss' album is actually released from City Centre Offices, Morr Music (you remember, that Lali Puna album you keep meaning to pick up) handles the worldwide distribution outside of the UK.
 
Herr Schnauss has allegedly been doing music for years, yet this is his first major release. Thankfully, he has chosen to use only his six best songs, keeping it under 45 minutes. While the piano melodies, long delays, breathy synths, fluid beats and electronic bass lines are basic, there's something undeniably uplifting about the mix. I sense a strong underlying theme of motion throughout the disc, gently propelling the listener through topographic soundscapes, using some of the most key elements of sound creation and manipulation. Shimmering guitar sounds bring back memories of Cocteau Twins tricks, lush keyboards can easily sink the Boards of Canada and crisp beats are tasteful and never oppressive. 'Far Away' is absent of clicky glitches and is an incredibly clean recording, one which always prompts callers to my radio shows when being played. The perfect setting for a listening would probably be a long bus ride on a sunny day through changing autumn foliage.
 
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- Administrator
- Albums and Singles
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- Albums and Singles
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- Albums and Singles
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A looped deep dark voice underpinned by unintelligible high pitchedreversed chatterings comprises the door opener "Halzaphron". "Plague"seeps mournfully in flanged droning, like Eno in hell chased by thegong bashing ghosts of Plotkin and Null because they want their rareThrobbing Gristle bootleg tapes back. There are phantom organists andfiery rumbles a plenty here!
Cavendish Sanguine reveals another grey world flecked with reflectingmetallic mirrors where odd looking hermetic explorers summon tendrilledbeasts from tombs and set them looming in places where Coil's attackingSennapods left a trail of ectoplasmic spittle. On the penultimate"FerroCello" virtual hell breaks loose with strings attached, rising toa mutant crescendo of sonic cyber splurge. This track is all the moreimpressive when it's revealed that rather than heavily effect ladenbowed strings, it's actually all sourced from a short short wave radiotransmission minced through the digital grinder. These crusts o'vitriolwould be ideal soundtracks for some horror flick set in dripping dankcaverns where foul demons lurk.
The entire CD-R can also be heard online at a well known MP3 site which you can find via Fflint Central.
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- Albums and Singles
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