Very cool. This brief EP arrives as the debut from this new experimental outfit from New York, and I have to say, I'm pretty into this. Opener "All the World's a Stage (But I Just Work the Lights)" starts off sounding like rather typical harsh noise, but within the first minute a seething rhythmic pulse starts to seep forth, eventually dominating the track as harshly distorted vocals rise to the fore. As things progress in this manner persistent rhythms become more evident, and some rather moving synth melodies actually take root underneath the distortion and make for a rather structured and musical outing (by experimental noise standards). The title track follows and opens in a similar manner with deep synths providing a musical backdrop to lightly distorted beats with a good amount of stereo panning in effect for added detail. I'm not as intrigued by the synth work in this track, but the beats are very effective, and I'm not turned away by the keyboard tones either, so it's still an interesting piece. The vocals are deeper in the mix this time out, equally as saturated with effects, so it's quite impossible to make out the actual lyrics. "Repose" closes things out at more than seven minutes, opening on a softer and more ambient note with swells of humming bass drones. This approach maintains a consistent feel for several minutes, adding in a few more melodic layers and some crackling textures resonating in the distance. Vocals don't even appear (with faint beats) until nearly five minutes in, and briefly at that. I definitely think this is my favorite track herein, it just comes across as more hypnotic and emotional, so it's quite fuckin' powerful. The CD-R is packaged in a matte gray sleeve inside of a red velvet bag with a pin that has the Loss logo on it. The bag pulls shut with string to hold the sleeve and disc inside. The actual sleeve is printed in black ink and has minimal artwork and text possessing a sketchy kind of aesthetic. A little plain, and no lyrics or anything are included, but it gets the job done. I won't at all be surprised if this artist starts to make quite a name for himself as time passes, because the structured and musical nature of this work should easily appeal to industrial fans as well as noise enthusiasts who aren't opposed to a moderate sense of musicality. This is one hell of a debut. The presentation leaves a little to be desired for me simply because the music is significantly stronger and more ominous, but I'm damn curious to see what will come next. Great work. Keep a fucking eye out for this one, I'm serious...
[Inner Demons]
Running time - 16:47, Tracks: 3
[Notable tracks: all three are really damn good]
Inner Demons - http://www.inner-demons.net
