Genre: Industrial / Ambient / Experimental / Psychoacoustic Ambient Noise

Split between Flutwacht and The Sounds Of Earth

01 Flutwacht - Untitled
02 Flutwacht - Untitled
03 The Sounds Of Earth – Black Chamber
04 Flutwacht - Untitled
05 Flutwacht - Untitled
06 Flutwacht - Untitled

This album contains two bands: Flutwacht (5 tracks) and Sounds Of Earth (a long one, the 3rd). The Sounds of Earth track’s duration is as long as the one of all Flutwacht. Firstly, Flutwacht tracks mix ambient industrial with some noise and rhythmic loops, often placed, from the middle of the track ‘til the end of tracks (1st, 2nd tracks). A constant vibration is covered with many evolving distorted sounds, from different frequencies, and even some remnants of human voices (4th). Heavy atmospheres of some factory are presented, with generators, howling engines, hammering presses, phrased by metallic shocks, parasites (4th).

The third track begins with some beat accompanied with parasites and noises, à la Mürnau ‘Deity’ track (‘Decoder’ album), as old school industrial, but noisier. The regular beat rapidly gets weaker, other sounds appear and keep rhythm alive. Some hybridization between distorted voices and brutalized metal cries appear. Then, some loop get excited, the music changes its shape and evolves to a new territory. Regularity of the rhythm and changes in the sounds allow the song to go on with the same rhythm and intensity. Saturation and high-pitched sounds become more aggressive and stop…

Flutwacht (4th track) features rhythmic loop with an ‘Au Seuil du Néant’ like background vibration. Cut voice sample and machinistic short white noise sample, here, but the structure is different: consisting of unclear loops of distorted voices and various crunches.

The Sounds Of Earth’s track begins with synths playing some brass-like sounds, together with sounds, smooth electronic vibrations, ambiguous notes… Low frequencies agitate the ground, metallic shocks disturb the whole, the same vibration is still present from the beginning, with water and wind noises, whispered voices samples and synths’ disharmonious notes… Indefinable noises, between insane voices and metallic thunder, accompany anguishing keys. A beat together with oscillating high notes make a transition to more complex keys, as brief as nocturnal… Bells are ringing for a forthcoming requiem, weapons are getting loaded… Pseudo voices, as Tibetan monks monochord singing… And some aggression samples put an unhealthy finishing touch (3rd).

In brief, Flutwacht may satisfy some H.I.V.+ fans, for it is as noisy and built in the same way than the French project: rather short loops repeating, progressively modified, distorted, with addition of new sounds (3rd, 4th, 5th). The rhythm is mainly given by repetition of some noises, not especially by percussive sounds or beats. The Sounds Of Earth seemed to me really difficult to broach, oppressing, especially weird. It’s quite amazing how many different “places” the music leads the listener into. Atmospheres are less industrial than Flutwacht’s. It seems other albums are not easier to approach: watch at Sounds Of Earth on myspace.

If you like noise, with weird samples, undefinable atmospheres, without much rhythm, you may like it, if you are not afraid to get lost in their universe…