BONDAGE FRUIT V - SKIN

It seems like every BONDAGE FRUIT album is different from the rest, and this certainly is no exception. Two songs make up this record including the almost 30 minute title track. There are no vocals on this one, and Cesar Inca makes a good point that this record seems to have been influenced by Post-Rock. The two long songs allow the band to add or take away sounds at their leisure, and so we get a lot of repetition like some of the Krautrock I love. As l listened to this record many times, I didn't think of Post-Rock or Krautrock, these guys have the ability to make whatever style of music they play their very own. These two songs are very different from one another, the first being dark and powerful while the second fits neither of those adjectives, but does incorporate more variety and is brighter.

"Skin" opens with electronic? sounds that last for the first 5 minutes, they are joined by violin a minute in. 2 1/2 minutes in the drums arrive, and the guitar comes in at 4 minutes. The first 5 minutes are slow moving, and the instruments mentioned really create no melodies as they come and go, playing slowly and briefly each time. It's 5 minutes in when the heaviness arrives, as a still slow and powerful soundscape takes over. The drums are very heavy while the guitar is ripping as it comes and goes. We get some brief vibes after 19 minutes,and the outburst of drumming 22 minutes in is fantastic ! It's so powerful 25 minutes in. Violin arrives 28 minutes in to end the song. That was amazing !

Like "Skin" had that electronic? sound for the first 5 minutes to create a rhythm to build around, "Frasco" opens with valiha for about 8 1/2 minutes to accomplish a rhythm as well. The valiha is an instrument that is shaped like a flute and is made of bamboo, it is plucked as it has strings. Eastern sounds and others come and go. I like the vibraphone on this track. The scorching guitar that arrives 4 1/2 minutes in comes and goes. When the valiha leaves it is replaced by the violin, vibraphone, and other sounds. Nice guitar / violin melody as percussion and bass help out. The song ends with lots of guitar feedback.

I still like their first record the best, but would recommend any of their studio albums. This one requires more patience than the rest in my opinion, but the rewards are worth the effort.