Here's an 18-minute 3" CD misleadingly packaged in a full-size jewel case. The duo opens with the 12-minute "36 Beautiful Songs", a rather nice experimental noise piece beginning with a sample and leading into various ambient textures that pan back and forth with lots of ringing drones and very subtle hints of faint distorted flutters. This proceeds for the bulk of the track, varying slightly into carefully placed musical elements or percussive sounds in the distance, getting slightly more jumbled as things progress. "Saving Grace on an 8 Hour Connection" is far shorter (2:17) and opens right away with repetitive acoustic guitar over ominous string scrapings. Then the also shorter (3:23) "Holy Innocents" swells back into a thick, bleak noisescape with lots of dense ambient hums and a little more aggressive texture to create a truly menacing piece of work that's probably my favorite of this EP. The layout is pretty minimal with abstract artwork/designs and some crisp illustrations of skulls, not to mention a clashing color scheme and some humorous credits. For example, the duo are credited as a "dreamer of dreams, handler of meat kittens" and a "master of the broadsword, and rider of unicorns", and they made sure to thank Ned's Atomic Dustbin. Now that's something you don't see everyday. This is a pretty interesting set of songs. I was definitely surprised to be greeted with experimental noise, I was expecting something more musical (though still quirky). I can't say I find the name Destructo Swarmbots to be at all fitting for this music, though. The band name is far more lighthearted than what these tracks deserve, though I wouldn't hold it against the quality of this release, of course. There's definite promise here. I'd love to hear the musical aspects of "Saving Grace on an 8 Hour Connection" explored further.
[Public Guilt]
Running time - 17:59, Tracks: 3
[Notable tracks: Saving Grace on an 8 Hour Connection, Holy Innocents]
Public Guilt - http://www.publicguilt.com
