Hmm, I’m puzzled here. Tribe Tapes does another re-release, and that’s not a bad thing. They recently re-released a few Slaughter Tapes, and in my book, that’s a good thing. I mean, those are collectors’ items simply for being released by Marco C. But here we have a third re-release from a cassette by Thom Elliott, and this being an experimental release with a 1900s electroshock system as a sound source might be an interesting subject, but 2x 30 minutes of looking at what this machine can do is i.m.h.o. stretching it. But let’s listen in depth; maybe I’m wrong.
Side A is called “Maceration” and has the machine-turned-synth in all its facets. A lot is going on, and it’s not until the last 5 to 10 minutes that the various waves and settings of the machine are put into a musical perspective. Furthermore, it seems as if the post-treatment of the sound is quite limited here. A bit of reverb, some sturdy compression (of course, these are electronics directly fed into audio equipment) and not too much more.
Side B was given the title “Enfleurage” and has added delays in its treatment. Because of that, it sounds much more likeable and open than “Maceration”. The movement of the waves is slower and more thought of; The sounds are given more space to breathe and form an actual composition; It all comes out better. There are moments that I found myself back watching Planet Terror because of the purity of sounds Louis and Bebe Barron worked with. Having one machine at your disposal limits you and makes you humble. And it’s precisely what you hear in the minimal approach on side B and what side A maybe lacks. So yeah, I’m happy to have heard it, and from the 60 minutes, I enjoyed 40. Which isn’t a bad score after all 😉
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