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Seliaphan-tu |
GRAVECONCERN
LABEL: Legatus Records
This five-song EP is one
of the most promising releases I've heard all year, mixing medieval sounds with
harsh, militaristic EBM. Starting off with a bombastic orchestral intro that
would do Laibach proud, the disc then moves into the operatic martial stomp of
"Marennacht" and "Unterwelt." Utilizing organic-sounding
drumbeats alongside harpsichord and string samples, TransZendenz is reminiscent
of the more classically influenced work of Wumpscut's Rudy Ratzinger. Singer
Jarn-A further contributes to this timeless atmosphere with ethereal vocals that
compliment the more standard industrial growls of vocalist/keyboardist Mikael.
Things start to take a different turn with the swirling, upbeat techno of
"Hexentanz." This one's a bit like Bel Canto, with blood-maddened
Viking shieldmaidens standing in for the fairytale creatures. "Seliaphan-Tu"
finishes things out by returning to Germanic solemnity with harpsichords and
processed accordions. Since this is an early effort, the production isn't quite
what it could be, and things do occasionally get muddled - there's a loop of
electronic horns in "Hexentanz" that's particularly jarring, for
example. Nonetheless, with a twenty-two minute EP this promising, I'm already
impatient for the full-length.
Stand: 17. Juni 2005 17:22:17 +0200