This release consists of four lengthy untitled tracks of bleak dark ambient soundscapes that seem to have an underlying message, as is often the case with Pine Tree State Mind Control. Expect lots of rumbling loops and drones with the almost constant presence of long spoken samples, of which only bits and pieces can be deciphered. Occasionally some more synth oriented tones or rhythmic elements surface, as do a few louder sweeping textures or the rare uses of actual beats in the distance. Everything tends to fall under lots of reverb and density, and it's really more like one long song, as all of the tracks run together seamlessly, and there's not that much of a real shift from segment to segment in many cases. The only thing that drives me nuts is that now and then a distant "bing" sounds itself through the foreground - sampled from a PC, you know, one of those typical Windows computer sounds - it just doesn't fit at all, and it's so recognizable that I find it distracting and uncommonly cheesy compared to the rest of the sounds (which are rather atmospheric and curious). The sound quality is nice and thick, with a great deal of resonant volume... it's not pristine, but it flows perfectly and everything is tightly woven together in a manner that I find very efficient. Like most Snip-Snip releases the CD-R comes in a slim jewel case with a xerox image of some leaves on light green paper wrapped in a thicker dark green piece of paper with text and the Pine Tree State Mind Control logo printed on it. I think this project is very cool. I do disagree with a few of the choices made every now and then, but for the most part everything I've heard from PTSMC has been rock solid, and I hope the project starts to gain more of the attention it deserves soon enough.
[Snip-Snip]
Running time - 41:46, Tracks: 9
[Notable tracks: they're all untitled]
Snip-Snip Records - http://www.angelfire.com/electronic2/snipsnip/
