Hibernal - The Machine
Written by Ken Foster
While Floyd's Welcome To The Machine parodied the music industry (when it was an industry), Hibernal look at the broader corporate world complete with extensive narration. With Progressive Rock & Post Rock being 2 of my personal addictions you'd have thought this album couldn't go wrong but fact is I hate narration. Ever since War Of The Worlds my finger has been hovering above the fast forward button to avoid narration on any album. Fact is i want to create my own mental images without the help of a Queens English trained voiceover professional.
OK, so putting the narration aside, what about the music? Maybe Mark Healy the solo composer and instrumentalist that is Hibernal, thought an instrumental album needed the diversion of spoken word but I'm not so sure. On 'An Open Door' the album starts to gain some traction before 'Home' continues with the irritating accompaniment. If you want the full background to the plot by all means trawl through the first 4 tracks, but if you are in a hurry (and want to avoid the 'Gattaca' meets 'Falling Down' scenario) skip straight to 'Losing Touch' the 5th track which has only a briefly interrupted 7:28 duration and finally starts to show some of the album's promise.
Half way through the album and I'm thinking this would work better as some kind of Audio-Visual project. Even a film.
Check out Losing Touch and The Coldness. If these tracks engage you, then by all means go for a start to finish experience. For me it doesn't quite work even though there are moments of beauty (particularly on 'The Coldness') and I am intrigued enough to keep tabs on Hibernal for the future.
Rating 3/5
El Doom & The Born Electric - Fire Don't Know
Written by Ken Foster
Kick Ass prog is the strapline and whilst a handle to grab, this isn't typical prog by any stretch. More like the bastard offspring of The Mars Volta and Nick Cave.
Don't be put off by the initial underwater echo effect vocals, as Fire Don't Know builds with twisted, complex guitar runs into a stunning crescendo of glorious noise. El Doom is the Norwegian artist/producer/ founding member of The Cumshots and Thulsa Doom.
Just a Facebook page with no website apparent. Influences cited as Rush, Thulsa Doom and Soundgarden this is a re-invention of prog that could see it entering the vocabulary and cease being the elephant in the room.
A second track It's Electric is also available and equally fresh. Check them out at the Facebook page.
Rating: 4/5
Section 25 - Dark Light (Factory Benelux 25-2-13)
Last Updated on Sunday, 17 February 2013 00:06 Written by Ken Foster
The new Section 25 album is released on the iconic Factory Benelux label and is the first since the excellent Retrofit. It is the first full collection of new tracks featuring Beth Cassidy on vocal duties and those lucky souls who bought the Invicta EP or have seen them on tour over the last 2 years will know that the band have taken an altogether more electro and dancier style (not that these elements have ever been far from the Section 25 mis en scene).
The Factory Benelux association is perhaps an apt one in this particular case as SXXV represent (i would suggest) more EU appeal than previous outings. It's ironic that the band are hitting new heights in the wake of all the politcal infighting of their former Factory stable mates. On 'Worlds End' and 'My Outrage' there's an exuberant optimism and confidence that e.g Sumner had on his Electronic project before the weariness took over. 'Pitch Black Box' doesn't grab me quite as much as the openers (probably ensuring that it will be the album's hit) but continues on the euro electro path.
'Love Cuts' Lori Anderson homage sections are a joy and Beth really sounds at home on vocal duties after an understandable nervous period following Larry's passing. I already adored 'Colour, Movement, Sex & Violence' and 'Inner Drive' so the inclusion here forms a pivotal centre piece to the album. 'Colour' is surely one of the best electro dance tunes of the last few years with 'inner Drive' not far behind. In fact 'Inner Drive' has that classic 'factory' electro sequenced sound that defined an era.
'78' is another gorgeous slice of electro dance pop (yes 'pop' - there i said it!) and recent playlist time on BBCR6 would indicate that Section 25 have found appeal with a whole new audience. Who'd have thought that? 'Memento' has a Human League (Dare era) feel to it and i am starting to 'slightly' miss the guitar and bass hallmark of certain older tracks. 'Early Exit' to the rescue though. This track has a slightly more familiar S25 sound and is one of the highlights of the album. The epiphany of unashamed joyous songwriting is plain to see on this track and long may it continue. It is all the more remarkable in these austere times that we live in and perhaps the perfect antidote.
The Colour, Movement, Sex & Violence dub (constituting track 11) is a surprising but welcome reprise. You get the impression that this was one of those eureka moments in the studio when everything fell together. The final track is a version of 'Program For Light' (originally from the 1984 album 'From The Hip'). This time around remixed by Scottish beatmasters Outernationale in a house/dance vogue. A fitting conclusion to what could be one of (if not the) finest Section 25 albums.
Rating: 4.5/5
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