Faded landscapes, lost in time and a world at peace, devoid of human life… is this just a glimpse of what’s really behind the mirror? Erode lets us see these parallel universes tucked away neatly on this digipak of apocalyptic beauty.
[Release page] Since the unfortunate demise of Gridlock in 2005, few have filled the post-industrial emotional void left in the electronic world. Without counting ex-Gridlock facilitator Mike Cadoo and his recent rebirth of Dryft (plus ongoing Bitcrush’in shoegaze), artists such as CH District, Proem, Marching Dynamics, Hecq, Access To Arasaka et al have kept the flurry of eroded percussion and expressive ambience high on their radar. Produced by Alexander Dietz (aka Erode) and Mike Cadoo, it’s not surprising to hear years of influence bubble to the surface on Horizon. Soaked in distressed baselines and overlapped melodies, Erode displays an aptitude for raw rhythms; his background as a member of Heaven Shall Burn feeds guitar-infested debris occasionally on this debut for Tympanik Audio.
“Detect,” and its screaming whispers, is packed with cacophonous harmony mixed with contagious electro-industrial pulses bringing to mind Grilock’s “Caloc” at moments. “Wither” suppresses similar moods; loosely crumpled percussion and buried sinewaves recalling “Clipper,” featured on Autechre’s Tri-Repetae. “Annoy” opens to a swarm of digital-fizz as it eventually tears open its gritty drill’n bass liner and emotive veil. All is not lost as the title track bleeps across a stream of foggy ambience, crunched beatwork and aquatic atmosphere giving the listener a nostalgic trip through time. These speckled contours of sound, blanketed by serene sheets are also featured in the beautiful “Disengage” and “10950” allowing Erode to shed the darkened skin surrounding Horizon‘s abandoned perspective.
On that note, a nod to Colin Marks’ deserted landscapes cover-art, which happens to spark Hymen Records’ mystique (sans white border) while maintaining an organic, almost colorless snapshot of faded landscapes, lost in time. A world at peace, devoid of human life… is this just a glimpse of what’s really behind the mirror? Erode lets us see these parallel universes tucked away neatly on this digipak of apocalyptic beauty.
Horizon is out now on Tympanik Audio. [Release page]
