BRUCE GILBERT

A factory of noise, as I sometimes refer to these over indulgent electronic works even if they are thrown by the great Bruce Gilbert, as in this "In Esse", 1997.

It is like a double standard by the musician. He/she delivers what seems to have been some super fun party, yet like as in many parties, the day after, things lose their nocturnal spark and the horrible truth shines upon. Double because at the end of the day the memoire is sold, not just retold.

111 words to spell disappointment do not seem to be enough. Every hero has its fall here and there.

*1 lonely PA star.

As far as references go those top names will place you somewhere music wise but not exactly. I remember listening to it around the same days of its release for the first time. My impression of it still is as if listening to an unspoken "concrete music" electronic opera or a really weird silent movie soundtrack.

These features are attained not by reproducing opera or cinematic stylings, opposite to that the dynamic songwriting, as its preference of sounds, countless change of tempos and moods, brief abstract no wave rhythms, heavy industrial induced riffs and minimal but full load experimental electronic environments thrown altogether in a permanent 32 minutes transmutation, set this 3 compositions release's psychedelic/industrial/Baroque kind of trip to arouse the listener's visual imagination.

****4 "irreverent, fun but unintentionally deep, highly experimental, brief masterpiece" PA stars.

Of course his electronic projects are not a WIRE extension, but his punk n' spunk is still there. This compilation and edition of his first 2 releases (1984-1986 respectively) combines their titles into one 1987, "This Way To The Shivering Man" album. As a follower of both WIRE and Gilbert's solo endeavors, it is not that far-fetched to understand the reason to merge both releases. As entities they both had their flawless compositions, a mix between both's best is totally understandable and welcomed.

This album exceptional attribute is the perfect understanding between "serious" electronic proposals tainted by Gilbert's punk spirit of being raw but not simple opposite to his chronological contemporaries. This compilation is conceptual but without a lyrical concept. Its well achieved compositions are full of hooking riffs, never devoid of humor but not funny. The well tempered musical idiom is experimental but focused , not that different from some of WIRE's early material. Its highlights are abundant and when not as such the musical proposals travel impeccably through various electronic stylings as Cosmic, Industrial, Drone or minimalistic Dark/Ambient and post-Punk.

A perfect introduction to this musicians discography, which in itself, is always transmuting into different shapes of the electronic musical languages' world.

****4 PA stars.