(04.03.05) After a long hiatus, em:t appears to be ramping up its release
schedule, once again delighting us with its signature style of elegant
electronics. The latest addition the em:t roster is 302 Acid, a
threesome from Washington, D.C., whose premier release on em:t is a
soundtrack to the dark undercurrents of the American psyche. Composed
of Doug Kallmeyer, Justin Mader and Andew Reichel (who previously
released a record on em:t as gel-sol), 302 Acid is the end result of
the threesome’s fascination with all the various bends and warps of
the outer genres of modern music.
Fabricated of equal parts hardcore, prog, punk, classical and
experimental electronics, Even Calls is a collision of these
styles as a modern noir soundtrack, a cracked teacup ride through back
alley art spaces and basement tattoo parlors. “Quest” hops and skips
as a syncopated drum kit tries to rein in a series of wild keyboards
that are spitting caustic melodies throughout a cavernous cistern.
“AIBOC” moans with wind moving through the strings of a warped cello,
a dead instrument that is borne across an empty field on the back of a
percussionist and DJ who provide an elegy for the haunted instrument
with a duet of drums and vinyl scratches.
“Six” begins with celestial echo of the warped cello’s death song, a
radio signal re-transmission of the stringed instrument, before
breaking into a rhythmic downtempo piece. “I believe in magic,” a
voice whispers deep in the cascading space tones and crackling
percussion of “Push Button,” a spectral voice that explicits haunts
this track but seems to embody the whole thematic structure of the
record with its confession. “Mortariggus” wanders into dark ambient
drone territory, unspooling as a series of vibrant vibrations filled
with slippery darkness while “Nocturnum” is composed of fading bell
tones, a dying signal that doesn’t start very loud and decays
gracefully into silence.
Even Calls is an easy record to put on the stereo; you just set
the repeat to infinite and forget where it starts and ends. Your room
just fills up after awhile, the shadows moving and dancing in time
with the beats. Even Calls caters to the nocturnal crowd, to
the lurkers after midnight who need a soundtrack to accompany their
nefarious activities. This one gets played a lot in my office after
the sun goes down. It makes the space less cold, less empty. Very
nice.
Even Calls is out soon on em:t.
