Essentially this is the meeting of two great minds and together they have exploited every last inch of the modern electronic arsenal to make a resounding avant-garde statement. This could well be the future of music.
30-seconds in as the luscious pizzicato strings give way to a warped electronic growl you know you’re in for something special. Tempo’s, voices, styles, grooves, kicks and screams phase in and out of awareness. The 20-minute ride surfs wildly unexpected twists and turns through an exhilarating aural landscape cohering countless odd threads into a magnificent musical adventure. Who would’ve thought a brutal death metal scream could segue so effortlessly into a rousing waltz? Or that operatic vocals and folkish guitar licks would find a welcome home cavorting amongst intense hardcore drum breaks? Igorrr & Ruby My Dear, that’s who.
As well as tying these myriad elements structurally our two crusaders also manage to do it sonically. The sound quality of this release is very high and although there is plenty of distortion, it is used effectively and sparingly unlike many releases on the harder end of the spectrum. It is thus highly recommended to listen on a good sound system or at least a half decent set of cans to appreciate the subtle details and clever panning.
If anything is lacking I would say it’s direction but then this doesn’t feel like a release that was supposed to have a narrative or an overarching flow, pastiche is definitely the mot du jour. Having said that, the spoken-word samples are masterfully chosen and the work conveys a resounding sense of calm and strength amidst the chaos. Essentially this is the meeting of two great minds and together they have exploited every last inch of the modern electronic arsenal to make a resounding avant-garde statement. This could well be the future of music.
Maigre is available on Ad Noiseam.
