Unsure of what to expect, this lengthy disc offers up a surprising 16 tracks of bleak and minimal dark ambient from this German project. The recording quality is nice and thick, with a good level of volume and clarity, but never abandoning a certain oppressive amount of density - never getting muddy, but definitely maintaining a consistent low-end rumble or hum. "Forcing the End" brings in some distant, reverberated vocals amidst its sinister textures, but most of the tracks are even more minimal and simplistic. It doesn't sound like a great deal of layering is ever involved, but in this case that works out very well, and helps the length of the record pass fairly fluidly with a nice, even flow. Many of the pieces are actually unusually brief as well, running around one to three minutes or so. It's not until more than halfway through the disc that things start to creep up on seven minutes with "Human Essence". "Eighty Percent" is the only piece that gets a bit more abrasive, and since it's the closing track it stands out a little bit too much. It's not bad for what it is, but contrasts the rest of the material so much that it makes little sense as an ending (granted it would be even less effective at any other point on the CD). The visuals look alright. It's a bit haphazard as far as differences in color scheme and image styles from page to page, and I really dislike the typeface used because it just doesn't fit the aesthetic of the visuals, but I've seen worse. Aside from the tracklist and some contact information and such, there's really no text involved, so... I'd have to say the content of the CD deserves a more appealing presentation, but you can't win 'em all. I'd like to hear more from this project at some point. I definitely feel that at least 15 minutes of this work could be shaved off to make for a more efficient release, but at least most everything is very well handled nonetheless. Those into the darker and more minimal drones of the ambient realm should look out for Drape Excrement.
[Art Konkret]
Running time - 69:47, Tracks: 16
[Notable tracks: Die S?nden Der V?ter, Patient Zero, Collateral Damage]
Art Konkret - http://www.art-konkret.de
