This is the debut solo album from Craig Ward of Deus and The Frames among others. It features 5 pieces over 43 minutes of well noodling noise and over processed guitars feeding through who knows what gadgetry to make them sound like all sorts of things other than guitars.
Although recorded in Rotterdam it's apparently connected to his move to Argyllshire as, well, he obviously thinks this is music that a Haggis might listen too. It basically consists of odd, ambient squiggles that might work in the chill-out room of your local crack den, but it's certainly not something to accompany the neeps and tatties.
At one point, it feels like we are descending into a pit not certain of what we might find there. It could be the tenant all chopped up and ready to cook but then I think the titles are sort of irrelevant on a disc like this, as you either rush to turn it off or get into the odd ambience it sets up around you. Played in daylight hours with the sun shining was probably not how it should be heard, it's probably far better to go down in to the lower reaches and wallow in it.
One section feels like Tibetan bells being caressed ringing round the room and if you turn it and press repeat you'll have yourself a perfect torture track for psychological breakdowns. After a mere 10 listens of New third Lanark you'll be craving an 80 shilling malt chaser but tied down with only a little dirty water for company, but you'll also be screaming for it to end, just end and it just keeps repeating.
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We descend further down into the underbelly of this beast just as it turns into a Saw 6-style torture pit and the animals are grabbing at your clothes, insisting you put on that kilt even though you're Belgian. You really need some help but hands are being cut off and you have to say "yes this music has me in a strange place" as its space ship lands in Dixons!!
The voices in your head have started to take over as this manipulates your mind to "vote yes to independence, yes to independence, free yourself of the English do it now!" Or else it could be something entirely different when you extrapolate it from the pulses and noises in the vortex of cortex; this is working its way towards some place that I think is beyond explanation.
These were my thoughts on this hard to describe album. You might think something completely different, but it's not for people that like tunes and melody. Oh and you might have bought it because you like the picture of a young boy on the cover in which case you may be disappointed.
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