|
REVIEWS
Cold Spring
...from a new English dark ambient
composer, creating atmospheres
that occasionally resemble early
COIL or PTV, but Liles has definitely
carved his own niche of rich,
malevolent and experimental electronics.
Very much recommended!
Cheeses
International
Ten short surreal pieces which
all come together nicely… The
sounds vary from flowing ambience
to more sudden samples and everything
inbetween, all carefully chosen
and assembled.
Industrial
Org
Not too long ago I spent a period
working in front of a slowly dying
computer monitor. I'd be typing
away and then suddenly, like a
cattle prod to the back of the
neck, a very loud electronic shorting
noise would blast out at the same
moment the screen mutating into
an epileptic's EEG scan. Then
with the same suddenness, everything
would revert to normal except
for the stress inducing scent
of ozone. It was frightening,
extremely unnerving and for some
bizarre reason I kind of looked
forward to it. Calm jarred by
intense blood rushing fear with
a lingering anxiety. This CDR
release from Andrew Liles embodies
many of the same qualities, a
serene stillness smashed apart
but sharp blurts of frantic activity,
leaving the listener feeling unsure
of their enviroment and not being
able to truly slip back into relaxation.
'Prelude to an Un World' includes
10 tracks of solemnly meandering
material that while mostly of
a stayed pace does manage to cover
a rather immense amount of territory.
There
are re-occurring themes, especially
repetitive hums that oscillate
between two or three states building
up a foundation for the incidental
events that flesh out each track.
Instrumentation is rather diverse
but seems to be based mainly on
found sound based samples with
only the odd element truly broaching
recognizability. Those that do
include lilting piano notes swept
into aural range by gusts of wind,
orchestral hits distorted by the
passage of time and unsettingly
indecipherable vocal treatments.
More than anything the material
reminds me of the susceptible
state when you have not quite
awoken and environmental aspects
start working themselves into
your unfolding dreams.
Some tracks have more distinct
boundaries than others, the first
three pieces for example have
well delineated borders where
the instrumentation and sound
design changes dramatically. The
second track has a delicate theremin
like tone interweaved through
out it which imparts a truly other
wordly feel, not unlike the tension
of the 'Carnival of Souls' score
but with the added impact of sharp
swooping tape edits giving it
a random suggestion of intense
accelleration. Others though,
say track 6, include enough space
and non standard development that
it is not immediately clear that
a given piece has ended. I'm not
sure if affixing to it the word
'creepy' is fair but it is definitely
not unlike the darkness of the
Playstation game 'Silent Hill'
and under the right circumstances
this disc could make you feel
very uncomfortable. Track 7 really
works this angle, dim sparks and
hints of rhythm flung off the
rapidly unwinding yet tightly
spun track. There are a lot of
similarities here with the first
Vox Barbara release 'the five
senses' with respect to the spacious
organics and overall sense of
movement, The 8th track especially.
Overall though I would say that
Andrew Liles works in a more subterranean
cell, with hints of madness crawling
forth from his work disrupting
the listener's complacency. The
9th track's vocal treatment is
the only moment on the whole disc
where I am left with an impression
of tepid academics, and only then
because of the lack of progression
and the comparitive power of the
surrounding material. Luckily
this outburst is short lived with
the final track crushing any further
doubts as to Andrew's method of
execution.
This disc has definitely grabbed
me from behind. It is a foreboding
and at times truly unsettling
aural examination, a Rorschact
rain cloud streaming out blurred
images and tangled memories. For
any fans of dark material, this
disc deserves to be a most highly
regarded and treasured artifact.
|
