Released
1997
Label
Pendragon Records
Reviewed by
Donald Netolitzy
Visit
Gridlock
Visit
Pendragon Records
Last Edit/Update
17 February, 1999
Gridlock
The Synthetic Form
Track Listing
1. Frantic
2. Halo (Rebirth)
3. -
4. Sickness
5. -
6. Pulvis Et Umbra Sumus
7. -
8. Retina
9. Wound
10. -
11. Burn
12. Ich Dien
13. -
14. Only Living Witness
15. Thin White Line
16. Regret
17. Burn (Mantra)
18. Frantic (Stark-raving mad)
The Synthetic Form represents the first
full-length release by the San Fransisco duo Gridlock and is, by any standard, an
astonishing debut. Powerful, dark, melodic, and thoughtful, Gridlock has
produced a product which implies the hand and ear of an expert craftsman. Dark,
alas, is something of an understatement. This album is a cauldron of swirling black pitch,
which drinks in thought and emotion.
Gridlock's general musical form is classical in tone, flowing
melodies punctuated by intense percussive, extremely aggressive beats. Entirely synthetic,
and aggressively so, attempts to mimic strings has been abandoned for obviously electronic
tones which, nevertheless, produce a curiously organic net effect. The vocals are
distorted to varying degrees, lyrics often quite obscure; a sparing and cautious use of
samples which can only be commended. Attempting to identify groups with an analogous
flavour is difficult - the closest I can offer is some early Mentallo and the Fixer,
though while the actual musical construction is radically divergent, the common motif of
harsh and gentle musical elements are comparable. The range in tempos, track to track, is
significant, an effective alternation of rapid and more calculated paces, but not the
underlying drive, this album possesses an underlying emotion which driven, and relentless.
A glance at the track listing may imply an interesting underlying
structural feature of this album, songs are designed to drift, one into another, in a
nearly seamless manner. A number of short, unnamed tracks (1-2 minutes in duration) serve
as transitions between otherwise abrupt changes in mood and pace. The net effect is to
produce an effectively integrated whole; this album flows smoothly and is ideally suited
to listening within a single session. The temptation to listen to a single track in my
experience, is minimal - rather the whole album serves as a single dish. The final two
remix tracks are the exception but not intrusive.
Another factor minimizing the tendency to skip for and back is not only
the thematic consistency and careful execution of the product, but the fact that every
single movement, primary or secondary, is exquisite. There are literally no weak tracks on
this album - none. A few awkward moments but those are but quite transient. To capture a
hint of the nature of the album, the impressions of but a few of the tracks:
Sickness static and noise punctuated by driven hard beat, a
tempting dance of pure hostility. Angry, condemnatory vocals, shrieking melodies climax a
track both raw and honed.
Pulvis Et Umbra Sumus thin metallic percussion and deep drones,
build into a menacing melody, climaxing in hissing vocals.
Wound smooth melodic waves pierced by the characteristic
Gridlock percussive heartbeat, swirling into pleading vocals and layered rich melody
surging against the relentless rhythm, ultimately falling away, hollow and stark.
Thin White Line the now familiar staccato percussion shifts to
melody, tracing a line around a slow deep pulse and bass drone, bass supplanted by
strained vocals, and then dissected, only the melodic staccato and fading bass melody.
The Synthetic Form is a symphony, translated into a different
age - our age. A whole whose sum is far greater than the components. Haunting and gentle
melodies, mesh with harsh, spiraling waves of aggression, musical and voice. All without
hope, without light. And quite without mercy. An album with which one can curl and cry, or
smother emotion in a heavy and dark blanket. And for all that, beautiful.
I cannot offer a higher recommendation - this album should hold
considerable appeal to anyone involved in the industrial genre and related domains. In
fact in my experience The Synthetic Form is a genre-breaking work, holding interest for
classical music listeners, and anyone appreciative of highly emotive music. We have, here,
a potent new presence in the industrial music community; The Synthetic Form is a notable
accomplishment for a veteran artist. As a first release? Oh, we have some delightful
moments coming down the production spiral, and I, for one, can hardly wait.
