ZOETROPE (OST)

Front man and sound sculptor behind Lustmord, Brian Williams provides us an other highy distinguised neurotic- macrocosmic dronescaping effort. If Heresy is considered as the summit of his art, this Zoetrope is also a bewitching and brutally post-industrial affair. In this one, Brian Williams maintains the focus on aleatoric sound manipulations made of echoing effects, tormented voices, industrial artefacts and slighty neglect the specific rumbling and layered electronic textures that were heavily substantial in his previous efforts. The atmosphere delivered in Zoetrope is efficiently doom and nightmarish but the cinematic approach is put a step further. Infinite space announces the colour with an absolutely creeped out synthesised sound tapestry built on heavy / plastic continuous sound forms and hyper-maniacal sinister noises that punctuates the ensemble. The following tracks pursue on the same schema, alternating and combining blasting industrial / metallic noises, crackling effects, bestial respirations covered by shadowy droning sequences. A really absorbing and primordial travel into the void and complete black hole.

I almost had to check I'd stuck the correct disc in at the beginning of 'Zoetrope' as it sounds startlingly similar to the really spooky 'Jupiter and Beyond' sequence in 2001: A Space Odyssey. That part where all the discordant operatic vocals wail and whine.

This Lustmord recording has all the usual dark, cavernous, hugely reverberated sound that his preceding albums contain. The production qualities on this one are superior, and the musical content has become more fluid and varied with a lot of violent sudden stabbing effects.

I'm surprised no movie producers have approached Brian Williams, as his recordings would make great horror soundtracks. Although apparently he had some input in 'The Crow' from 1994.

Some parts are quite dramatic with what sound like steel man-hole covers spinning like coins before wobbling to a thunderous clang. Dramatic hammering and electronic whooshing becomes more prevalent after the half way point . I'm sure I can hear evidence of the 'EMS Synthi AKS' software package at play.

Lots of whispering goblins and gargoyles are guaranteed to send a shiver up your spine in 'Amalgamated man' The tracks with sampled vocals are very effective indeed adding a real intensity that the instrumental tracks seem to lack. The sound of bones being sawed and screeching metallic wires only add to my sadistic enjoyment.

Strangely the poorest track is the one where there's a semblance of tune - 'End Titles' has some already horribly dated keyboard violin strings and a boring straight beat.

There won't be a large catchment area for 'Zoetrope'. It's a grim, dark and unhappy album. Just the kind of stuff I like... There are far creepier albums available but this is a pretty solid effort from the Welshman.

Now if you'll excuse me I have to go and change my nappy.