CONSUME RED

We start with a few saxes plaintively crying. It sounds somewhat exotic. Spanish? Arab? This goes on and on, like it is for a dark ritual, or as if we are at the vigil for hundreds of dead. Eventually, noise bursts in. This continues on and off, as the saxes show no sign of abating, only pushing ever onward, with a few different tones and notes here and there. Ever longer later, as the noises continue to scream for longer duration, a traditional Japanese instrument starts to twang. Eventually, drums join, and then soon guitar. It still seems like we are buildings towards something else, but by the hour mark this madness ends. That, everyone, is "Consume Red", a very, VERY strange masterpiece, odd in so many different ways. For one, this sits at the apex of world, avant prog, specifically of a rock persuasion, and noise. A strange combination. And, again, this just builds towards nothing. I hope the band doesn't mean to compare this crazed work to life itself. Also strange, it just works. The saxes are repetitive beyond Kraftwerk's wildest dreams, but it all sounds great, at least if you can tolerate noise. Everyone plays their part perfectly and to the fullest. The noise itself is well used, and well done. Plus there is use of dial tones a whole decade before brostep made the idea seem worthless, but here it proves worthwhile. If you are looking for a great challenge, a masterful work of noise and avant prog, or just one of the strangest albums on these archives, this is it.