MAEROR TRI

The idea is good - it's all about schizophrenia - where over 100 personalities have been found in one person. Such a pity then that it doesn't stand up to such a statement.

The poor corporate style artwork that all 'Korm Plastic' releases purveyed do not encourage the first time listener with any sense of curiosity. It's awfully poor - with very little thought towards design and presentation. And that font annoys tremendously - with me being a graphic designer to trade.

The sounds within are mostly tuneless electronics with a treated electro-acoustic drone pervading throughout its entirety. There's nothing to grasp hold of or to grab your attention. At best it could be described as the stranger parts of David Lynch's 'Twin Peaks'.

Things do pick up with backward vocals entering the fray on 'The Revenger' but then it just groans morosely to the conclusion.

'The Protector' begins with some old pirate dragging what sounds like a treasure chest over a concrete floor before all sorts of squealing and reversed sounds batter your ears for the next 10 minutes. Almost 'Merzbow' like in approach it will challenge even the hardiest Prog listener.

The fifth track, which isn't even mentioned anywhere in the amateurish liner notes is the one highlight. It's full of reversed vocals and instrumentation that sounds incredibly similar to 'Zoviet France's' Lohland from '85. Finally, some emotion.

Much better was to follow...

'Maeror Tri' reincarnated as 'Troum' who continue to record to this day and have released some equally beguiling and emotionally enthralling guitar and electronic based albums, but I don't think anything comes close to this. There's so much beauty amongst the bleakness on 'Myein'. One of those once in a life-time occurrences where everything just fell into place perfectly without effort.

I bought this in '95 upon release and was instantly delighted with the cardboard triangular packaging. 1995 is around the peak year of creativity for 'Maeror Tri'. It's also among their last after 7 years of hit and miss recordings. They were always similar to English experimentalists 'Zoviet France' in approach, using acoustic instruments that were filtered and distorted so highly that they became indecipherable to the human ear.

Their name translates as 'The Mourning Three' and 'Myein' begins with the gothic droning of 'Phlogiston'. A beatless throng of strange guitar-like pulses that slowly emerge stronger and more powerful as it progresses. Despite being the weak link on 'Myein' it still holds a malevolent threat and intensity but is slowly submerged by following two masterworks.

Easily the most tuneful track they ever laid down on tape; 'Desiderium' floats around airily with 'Durutti Column' sounding guitars but creates a much darker atmosphere. I can't think of a prettier, yet more miserable tune I've ever heard. It's a desperately serious vibe that is produced throughout this long album and is certainly not a happy one. But for old miserablists like me this is the creation of something beautifully sad. A monumental, hypnotic and dreamy recording that has that definite 'Maeror Tri' alien guitar sound that no-one else has even come close to competing with.

It's the 46 minute self titled track that sets this apart from any of their contemporaries. It belongs in my top 20 'Desert Island Disc' tunes. A grim swirling thrall of vaguely guitar-like sounding instruments float and bob around like a drowning man at sea. 'Stars of the Lid' type ambience follows as that poor drowning guy sinks ever downwards in slow motion. A continuous sense of threat prevails even though the sounds are so quiet and relaxed. It's an odd combination that they somehow manage to juggle with a serendipitous outcome. To my noise damaged ears this is symphonic.

It's that fine unidentifiable line between beauty and ugliness. After being immersed in this track for 14 minutes I start to hear a water spirit 'Kelpie' ringing tiny bells in my face. At 22 minutes I feel like I'm stuck in a grandfather clock at microbic size where the bell delay sound is huge. A tune, of sorts, slowly grinds into action at 27 minutes - one that is deep, yet light and otherworldly raising 'Myein' to a higher level of excellence. A cavernous last 10 minutes ensues with a gorgeous, simplistic tune that warbles and falters to its conclusion. It's all just perfectly balanced.

'Myein' may well be my favourite ambient recording of all time. It's such a pity that no-one else seems to have heard this. I don't even know if it's available any longer. If it is - you don't know what you're missing folks. An undoubted masterpiece of dark ambience that I'd recommend to listeners of 'Lustmord', 'Voice of Eye', 'Aphex Twin' and 'Zeit' era 'Tangerine Dream'.

Perfect.