Proem’s new release on Merck sees Richard Bailey taking the sound he carved out on his Burn Plate No. 1 (Hydrant) to the next level. While the production is cleaner and more precise this time out, this has not affected the percussion which is crunchy as ever. Distortion allies with the spacious melodies to carry across the emotional elements of the tracks. Ambience also plays a large role in this disc with unique sounding processed pads providing the backbone for many of the tracks. One of the things that truly stands out about this disc, is the way that there are numerous tiny variations within the tracks: a single reverberated snare, a micro reverse, an extra delay. This attention to detail helps to set Negativ above the pack and create a CD that is just exciting on the 10th listen as is on the first. Negativ is an intriguing release, with not a sign anywhere in sight of a sophomore slump.
