Released
1991
Label
Nettwerk/Capitol
Reviewed by
Michael C. Lund
Visit
Last Edit/Update
23 March, 1998
Skinny Puppy
SPASMOLYTIC
Track Listing
1. Spasmolytic (Remix)
2. Shore Lined Poison (Remix)
3. Harsh Stone White (Live in Denver)
4. Walking On Ice
(live excerpts -- s.f.:dallas:o.k.c)
Spasmolytic is one of Skinny
Puppy's most valuable single releases. Not only is the 'remix' of the title song
itself highly imaginative, and very good; the single also features a generous selection of
excerpts from the band's Too Dark Park tour. The last song -- a 'remix' of the
excellent album track "Shore Lined Poison" -- does not live up to the standard
of the original, but, all things considered, that is a small blemish on an otherwise very
good release.
The extended remix version of
"Spasmolytic" lacks some of the madness of the original, but makes up for it
through the spacey quality of the treatment it has received. In the beginning, this
version steers close to the original, but with Ogre's voice and the percussion
strongly favored in the mix. However, as the song progresses, the mix becomes more
adventurous, moving through a series of distinct passages. At one point, a bassy synth
theme brings an air of disco fever to the song, and, later in the piece, the elements of
the song have been manipulated and inverted to such an extent that the piece seems to lose
all flow and direction in a whirling chaos of sound. Ogre's vocals generally seem
less passionate, but are redeemed by the clever incorporation of a few lines of lyrics
from "Rash Reflection" at the very end.
As mentioned, the 'remix' of
"Shore Lined Poison" is less interesting than the "Spasmolytic" remix.
The individual segments of the original song have been rearranged, and an approach similar
to that of the "Spasmolytic" mix has been taken here as well. However, in this
instance it does not work, and all that is achieved is the ruin of the original's power
and sweep.
The live section opens with a
fantastic performance of "Harsh Stone White," recorded in Denver. Musically, the
song is very faithfully reproduced, but there is an added element of suffering in Ogre's
vocals that was not present on the studio recording. "Harsh Stone White"
dissolves into "Walking On Ice" -- an extended assemblage of live excerpts from
San Francisco, Dallas and Oklahoma City. This material focuses on Key's and Goettel's
live improvisations, and is an abstract collage of drum solos, sampled radio tunings,
snippets of dark synth themes, free-associational vocal rants and sheer noise. At one
point the piece becomes recognizable as the track later entitled "All Eyes" on Brap,
but otherwise, this track is an exploration of sound for sound's sake.
