Released
1997
Label
ION
Reviewed by
Michael C. Lund
Contact
ION Records
67 Cooper Square
New York,
NY 10003, USA
Last Edit/Update
01 February, 1998
Death Cube K
DISEMBODIED
Track Listing
1. Disembodied
2. Embalmed
3. Terror Tram
4. Hanging Gallows
5. Pre Hack
The second collaborative effort between Bill Laswell and Buckethead
under the name Death Cube K (the first being Dreamatorium (1994)
is a superb horror film soundtrack without a movie. On the CD's insert card Buckethead
is credited as playing guitar, Dr. Phibes organ and stretching rake; Xtrakd
as supplying Ambient Nightmare Machete; and, Bill Laswell as playing bass.
Cryptic as these credits are, they provide a good clue to the quality of the music
featured on this release.
Deep, rumbling atmospheres
dominate the opening title track, which appropriately transports the listener to an
otherworldly place, detached from any corporeality. Over the reverberating drone dances a
slow-motion theme that is occasionally joined by brief ghastly rustlings and tinklings.
The second track
"Embalmed" travels into deeper horror territory. Eerie distorted sounds and
strange, vibrating guitar effects support a slow lilting guitar theme.
"Terror Tram"
conjures up the most paranoid atmosphere of all. The effect is that of being onboard a
nightmare tram that does not move, but through which courses a cold draft of disjointed
noises. A lurking, ominous bass presence carries on it soughing, gurgling guitar chords
that echo and bounce inside the metal cage of this derelict tram.
Buckethead whips up
a storm of treated guitar acrobatics on the next piece -- "Hanging Gallows." It
is a shorter piece, which again features subtle ambient background harmonics to support
the deafening wanderings of the guitar. The combination of beauty and tour-de-force guitar
work plays like a twisted elegy to a hanged man.
The extended closing piece
-- "Pre Hack" -- is a true lexicon of experimental guitar tricks. As such the
track breaks with the moody, evocative qualities of the rest of the CD. However, the
crazy, whimsical nature of this Buckethead playground relieves the tension, and
brings the CD to a rather joyful close.
Dave McKean created the
cover graphics -- disturbing monochrome images that look like stills from The Brothers
Quays' animations.
