Released
1998
Label
Fever Pitch Music
Reviewed by
Michael C. Lund
Contact
Fever Pitch Music
1108 E. Capitol Dr.
Appleton, WI 54911
USA
Visit
Last Edit/Update
26 september, 1998
Megaptera
BEAUTIFUL CHAOS
Track Listing
1. Final Day (First Cut)
2. Sleep
3. Mass Murder Part II
4. The Passage
Appearing almost simultaneously with Megaptera's full-length The Curse
Of The Scarecrow, the release of the EP Beautiful Chaos was apparently also
delayed considerably. The four extended tracks on this CD were in fact recorded back in
1996, but only released this summer (1998) by the small American label Fever Pitch
Music.
Beautiful Chaos again
features the expansive, dirge-like doom-scapes that have become synonymous with the name Megaptera.
On this particular CD, however, the individual compositions are generally more
developmental or structured, and, aside from "The Passage," the reliance on film
samples is sparse compared to other of this project's releases.
The opening piece "Final
Day" Shifts between sequences of foreboding ambiance mingled with church choir
samples, and explosive lapses of even more apocalyptic atmospheres, propelled by a wealth
of thundering beats and gyrating inferno machinery. The strong textures of the sounds, and
the dense layering makes this one of Megaptera's most accomplished
tracks, and it is probably the most compelling piece on this CD. "Sleep" is a
comparatively subtle creation. Aside from momentary impulses of machinery and tinkling
clockwork, this track is more or less composed of dark, oppressive sheets of sound slowly
overlapping and merging in murky and foreboding patterns, with a stream of sequenced beats
and harmonies snaking its way through the music.
With "Mass Murder Part
II," the horror returns full force. Pounding beats of an intensity that threatens to
tear the very sonic fabric of the music apart, run like a throbbing, ruptured artery
throughout the entire piece. The sound of television samples are audible in the far
distance, but largely drowned out by the relentlessly shattering beats, and the carpet of
distortion that flows beneath them. Only the occasional appearance of an organ theme
breaks the monotony of this grating butcher shop anthem. The CD closes with "The
Passage" -- a frantic collage of film samples and billowing electronic signals.
Metallic piston rhythms throw sparks amidst the busy tapestry of samples, and a powerful
bass theme descends upon the piece like dark cloud. This is truly music sucked from the
cancerous bone marrow of 20th century media culture.
Beautiful Chaos is a worthy
companion piece to The Curse Of The Scarecrow, and a great introduction to Megaptera,
for those unfamiliar with this darkest of industrial projects.
