Cathode Ray Tube outdoes himself with probably the most stark, dark, and dystopian electronic soundscapes yet.
Stark, dark, and dystopian electronic soundscapes
Well, just when I thought the prolific Cathode Ray Tube (CRT for short) wouldn’t be able to top his previous release(s)—Slow Your Vapor was released just a month ago, a mixture of more upbeat exp-electronic fractures—I’m almost left without words.
After having spent a year on this visual/soundtrack project—composed specifically with the barren and ruined world of his Bunnyhead minicomic in mind—CRT outdoes himself with probably the most stark, dark, and dystopian electronic soundscapes yet, borrowing the title of this album from Cabaret Voltaire’s 1981 classic psychedelic synth-industrial track of the same name on Rough Trade.
Ravaged and emotive industrial shards pulse with raw blips and darkened bleeps—”Safe House (Intro)” is a synthesized beauty that doesn’t let up. This album really kicks into gear (figuratively and literally), with 6 tracks all over the 7-minute mark—each piece is sonic shadow of its counterpart. “The Foundling” bounces across heated charcoals, its bass beats churning while an eerie industrial landscape is revealed. There are staccato breakbeat drums and disjointed rumbling rhythms ever-present on the fluid industrial-techno layers of “The Monoliths”—a highlight that just about comes to life as it evolves. The rugged and gritty “Leviathan” explores new worlds, broken tones, drones, and muffling low-end squiggles are elevated by digital clicks’n cuts scattered throughout just as “Regression Stance” emits a dense ambient-mechanical influx. “Uprooting Cursed Circuits” closes off with murky percussion, dilapidated rhythms, and nostalgic synthesizer tones. A mind-bending soundtrack to say the least!
Seconds Too Late: Original Soundtrack also comes with Bunnyhead: Seconds Too Late! minicomic—see front cover below) and is available on Component. [Bandcamp]
