Pimentola :: Misanthropolis (Cold Meat Industry, CD)

(04.29.07) This CD is an odd animal. In a lot of ways it’s quite traditional and in others it really does reach for some really interesting territory. I’d describe it as a cross between neo-classical, industrial, power electronics
style vocals, indian classical music, folk, Test Department and Muslimgauze. With live percussion, classical instruments and vocals amid a sea of sampling and noise it’s really difficult to tell where this is going to go next.

Most neo-classical has a habit of just using out of tune orchestral hits and boomy drums and while these tools do appear on this album Pimentola are using neo-classical in a much more interesting way, especially as a lot of the classical instruments are real. And it has to be said that a lot of the way they’re used does occasionally feel like Test Department’s live sets but there is a lot more of a progressive feel on this album giving it an oddly retro flavor but still managing to push boundaries into areas you’d never expect.

For example, the CD manages to have an industrial four on the floor noise track in “Wann endet die zeit” and yet have what feels like a western European folk song with added theremin on “Death is a Secret.” Then you get “The stars hang like Lamps from a sky of steel” which crosses drone, indian percussion, droning vocals and a bit of dub –that’s just three examples. To say the least it’s really difficult to describe this album.

If you’re wanting to hear someone pushing the boundaries of what neo-classical and industrial are but still managing to carry off a bit of a classic late 80s/early 90s feel then you really should go for Misanthropolis because it achieves this and manages to also make some really good tracks in the process.

Misanthropolis is out now on Cold Meat Industry. [Purchase]

• Cold Meat Industry
• Pimentola + Myspace