experimental / drone / noise
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The world of experimental music is one of many 'mehs' and a few awes. I've seen people make drones, noise and ambient with all kinds of instruments, from guitars and bass guitars over hurdy-gurdies, tape recorders and window glass. Once in awhile, a drummer joins in on the fun, bringing an extra dimension to the whole thing. However, this time, the drummer doesn't join anybody, he does it on his own. In that aspect, this is the longest and most intriguing drum solo I've ever heard.
But what would you expect from someone like Rene Aquarius? Being one half of power jazz duo Dead Neanderthals and cooperating with people like Dirk Serries and John Dikeman, this dude certainly knows his way around everything between ambient, jazz and grindcore. Armed with his drum kit and loads of effects, he now comes up with his solo debut, a debut I was extremely curious about. I know most of Aquarius' other work and I'm a big fan but there is a difference between Dead Neanderthals and this album.
The main difference is the tempo. Do not expect any grindcore blast beats because those are left behind and replaced by eerie drones, often harsh noise and strange, otherworldly soundscapes. The result comes very close to dark ambient acts like Svaixt and Treha Sektori, as well as experimental noise projects like MZ412 and Megaptera. That being said, this album would have fitted perfectly in the Cold Meat Industry stable. There are even some nice Deutsch Nepal percussion passages here.
So yes, this is an extremely slow album, sluggishly dragging itself through my speakers. It has an eerie, haunted atmosphere which makes it a perfect soundtrack for nightly quests through abandoned buildings, if you're into that stuff. Come to think of it, abandoned buildings would be a neat place for Aquarius to perform these pieces. I'd certainly like to see that happen. Even more, now I'm wondering what a cooperation between Aquarius and Tomas Järmyr would sound like. Maybe that would make an interesting project for the future.
But I'm digressing again. Apparently I'm very good at that, just like this Dutch gentleman is very good at getting more out of his drums than most other drummers could possibly imagine. Obviously, this album comes highly recommended for all fans of experimental ambient, from Anenzephalia to Zoviet France. If you like any of the acts I mentioned in this review, I urge you to check out this awe-inspiring piece of work. Now, how about that abandoned buildings tour Rene?
Serge
But what would you expect from someone like Rene Aquarius? Being one half of power jazz duo Dead Neanderthals and cooperating with people like Dirk Serries and John Dikeman, this dude certainly knows his way around everything between ambient, jazz and grindcore. Armed with his drum kit and loads of effects, he now comes up with his solo debut, a debut I was extremely curious about. I know most of Aquarius' other work and I'm a big fan but there is a difference between Dead Neanderthals and this album.
The main difference is the tempo. Do not expect any grindcore blast beats because those are left behind and replaced by eerie drones, often harsh noise and strange, otherworldly soundscapes. The result comes very close to dark ambient acts like Svaixt and Treha Sektori, as well as experimental noise projects like MZ412 and Megaptera. That being said, this album would have fitted perfectly in the Cold Meat Industry stable. There are even some nice Deutsch Nepal percussion passages here.
So yes, this is an extremely slow album, sluggishly dragging itself through my speakers. It has an eerie, haunted atmosphere which makes it a perfect soundtrack for nightly quests through abandoned buildings, if you're into that stuff. Come to think of it, abandoned buildings would be a neat place for Aquarius to perform these pieces. I'd certainly like to see that happen. Even more, now I'm wondering what a cooperation between Aquarius and Tomas Järmyr would sound like. Maybe that would make an interesting project for the future.
But I'm digressing again. Apparently I'm very good at that, just like this Dutch gentleman is very good at getting more out of his drums than most other drummers could possibly imagine. Obviously, this album comes highly recommended for all fans of experimental ambient, from Anenzephalia to Zoviet France. If you like any of the acts I mentioned in this review, I urge you to check out this awe-inspiring piece of work. Now, how about that abandoned buildings tour Rene?
Serge