CLEANSE

So much of the experience of listening to this album is waiting for something to happen, only to be disappointed because it never does. Why do some artists feel the need to fill substantial portions of their projects with mere noise? I'm sorry, but to me, that's a shamefully lazy way of making an EP into an LP. No, I don't find it to be creative or ingenious- quite the opposite in fact. This album runs approximately fifty-eight minutes, and no less than twenty-five of those minutes consist of noise- static, mostly, which is something I could easily obtain by removing the cable from my television and turning up the volume. Moments of actual songwriting (dare I say excellence?) salvage this album, and for that I definitely believe the dross should have been purged and this have been released as a solid EP instead of as a irritatingly dull full record.

"Cleanse: Tower to Sky" A thin film of static and noise sets the tone of the album.

"Syzygy" While maintaining that heavy fuzz, a proper song commences, which moves between biting and distorted growls and clearer vocals, but even clearer vocals are swamped with grit.

"Solace" Deep, echoing bass makes me think of "One of These Days" from Pink Floyd's Meddle. A duo of hard-panned guitars play two different melodies and builds before the music becomes something far more straightforward. This is a pretty good song, mixing psychedelic and heavy metal aspects.

"Tidal" The fourth piece on the album explodes immediately into action with a pleasant moderate tempo and heavily-distorted guitars. After a while it starts to drag a bit, however.

"Cassini I" Eerie sounds and ghostly noises make up much of this piece, which incorporates unsettling skipping and popping. Portions of it sound like stripped-down Ozric Tentacles, while others are just unbearable and grating sound effects that seem more befitting one of those novelty Halloween CDs to play at parties- only this one is scratched. Ultimately, it is a lengthy introduction to the next piece.

"Cassini II" That said, the only thing that happens during this one that is different from what came prior is one guitar laden with reverb and some whispering. It's dark ambience, and nothing more.

"Voyager" After nearly fifteen minutes of dark ambience, only then does something exceptional happen. The guitars are used to great effect, and not all of them are seeped with distortion. The vocals are disgustingly distorted, however, often sounding like the vocalist is trying to clear his throat- I want to offer him a cough drop.

"New Truth" This is a far superior piece. Musically and vocally, it is similar to recent Porcupine Tree, which is to say, melancholic and with harder-edged segments. This song shows the real potential of the artist.

"Terminus Ad Quem" Unfortunately, the final track returns to the nebulous noise and sound effects- this time, it sounds like an intergalactic Laundromat. Music finally fades in during the last ninety seconds or so, but by then, I've already cried uncle and hit the stop button.