Hidden in lurking shadows of analog machines, there’s a beauty that lies within these seemingly eerie soundtracks. At times delving into tribal terrain, what’s in store here is an aptitude for the crossroads between improvisation and organized chaos.
“The Psychexcess trilogy is designed to be similar to a three movie series in an aural format” according to the Hymen Records release page. Psychexcess I – Presentism is the introduction to the series which takes Frank Riggio into yet another scope of genre bending. Over the years the Toulouse, France-based musician has taken on several formations and recently for Hymen he’s leaning on soundtrack motifs, pure instrumentation, melancholic electrical shapes and downbeat grooves. Painting an audio abstract of crying violins and cellos, twisted percussion and a story-line of darkness, this album takes a step to the left, perhaps something Ant-Zen might have ate up due to the esoteric nature of Psychexcess I – Presentism. Scorched atmospherics, accordions, found sounds and raw experimentation only begins to tell the story Frank Riggio is trying to tell. Hidden in lurking shadows of analog machines, there’s a beauty that lies within these seemingly eerie soundtracks. At times delving into tribal terrain, what’s in store here is an aptitude for the crossroads between improvisation and organized chaos. As these smoldering beats and pieces align themselves alongside David Lynch themes, Psychexcess I – Presentism continues to push the ears on a trip for which you didn’t know you were ready for. Deconstructing instrumental electronic bytes that display an organic pulse amidst a digital backdrop of vast sand dunes and obscure experimentation keeps the whole package well under way. A wholly satisfying barrage of music that bends and deforms its vague definition of the genre, if there really is one for Mr. Riggio. A truly unique angle for left-field music and one that Hymen are able to harness and embellish upon. One can only imagine where the next two installment will take its listeners, but if it’s anything like Psychexcess I – Presentism, then be ready for a shift in your audio balance.
Psychexcess I – Presentism is available on Hymen. [Release page]
