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Released
1997

Label
Invisible

Reviewed by
Michael C. Lund

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Last Edit/Update
06 March, 2000

Not Breathing

Sangre Azul

         
Track Listing

1. Rocket
2. The Ventilator
3. Revlon Sky
4. Xanax
5. Electromagnetic Disembowler
6. Mindsweeper
7. Glitch
8. Rotorhead Aggression Release
9. Projectile
10. Monochrome
11. Quiditity

          Invisible Records is about to release Not Breathing's new double-CD, on which occasion a review of this excellent band's debut release from last year seems in order. Sangre Azul contains eleven richly layered tracks of highly innovative experimental soundscapes. The individual tracks on the CD are linked together by fluid transitions, making Sangre Azul a compelling soundtrack for the imaginary movies of the listener's mind.

          After an initial countdown, the opening track "Rocket" immediately takes off into a dynamic collage of tinkling, zapping, plinking sounds that weave together into a mesmerizing sonic tapestry. "Rocket" is a comparatively brief piece that ends in a subtle hum, bridging it with "The Ventilator." Driven by a deep bassy beat, "The Ventilator" is another of the CD's briefer tracks, with the radiator-like hum serving as backdrop for the various treated and warped effect sounds that complete the sound image. At the end of the piece, only the hum is left, and it gradually mutates into the 'ambient' opening of the extended track "Revlon Sky" that follows.
          Out of "Revlon Sky"'s quiet introduction emerges a gentle, pulsating beat that steadily grows in volume, and mutates into a booming bass pound. Lifting off into a cloud painting of celesital sounds, the piece momentarily passes a solitary electronic bird, chirping its shrill greetings. Throughout its entire eleven minute voyage into sonic space, "Revlon Sky" constantly evolves. This extraordinarily rich piece eventually transforms into the sound of a closing thunderstorm. And, as a lightning bolt tears through teh aural fabric of Sangre Azul, "Xanax" begins, and Not Breathing is off on another voyage of sound. "Xanax" features strong percussions and clear, chimy sounds weaving in and out amongst each other, creating an alien, dreamlike world of harmony.
          "Electronic Disembowler" is dominated by heavy percussive elements that are occasionally interrupted by rather violent synth blasts. In the far background of the piece hovers some rudimentary atmospheres that linger behind, after all other sounds exit the stage at the end. These subtle harmonies seep into the beginning of "Mindsweeper," where they are obliterated by a deafening scream of noise. After the scream, "Mindsweeper" wanders along with a groovy sway to its gait. Melodic atmospherics course through the entire piece, which eventually evolves into a deeply layered dance track.
          Two very brief pieces follow. First, "Glitch," which displays a more chaotic side of Not Breathing -- a barrage of twisted percussions and manipulated sound effects tumbling around amongst each other. "Rotorhead Aggression Release" features (as the title suggests) some rather hard-driving treated beat patterns, with tinkling synths jumping for dear life between the rapid, bassy beats.
          "Projectile" returns to the slower, warmer percussional progressions of the earlier tracks. This piece again has the qualities of a musical voyage, replete with numerous indiginous instruments and sampled exotic bird cries. At the end "Projectile" dissolves into another segment of blissful incidental sounds, leading the way into "Monochrome." Another very long track, "Monochrome" has a beautifully peaceful and resolved air about it. Subtle chimes and beats play against an atmospheric background of manipulated choral voices and synth thematics. And, again, this piece too empties out into the transitional element of a thunderstorm, which brings the CD to its closing track -- "Quiditity." The most celestial of all the tracks on Sangre Azul, "Quiditity" is one long blissful assent into the ethereal that brings this amazingly imaginary and congruent initial release from Not Breathing to a fitting and worthy conclusion.

Copyright 1996-2000 Last Sigh