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Released
1996

Label
Cold Spring

Reviewed by
Michael C. Lund

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Cold Spring Records
87 Gloucester Ave.
Delapre, Northampton
NN4 9PT
United Kingdom

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Last Edit/Update
24 april, 1998

Various Artists

SEEDMOUTH

         
Track Listing

1. Deutsch Nepal -- Surgery
2. Illusion Of Safety -- The Most Familiar Enemy
3. Inade -- Gihad Khor
4. Cranioclast -- The Gestalt Of The Doppelganger
5. Inanna -- Zero Twice
6. John Watermann -- A Bewildering Number Of Brides
7. Mikhail Atom -- N2
8. Band Of Pain -- Bluebell Hill
9. Experimental Audio Research -- Ring Modulator
10. Jawbone -- Chemical Wedding
11. Lustmord -- Deep Calls To Dub

          From the almost ten minute long, dynamically haunting opening track "Surgery" by Deutsch Nepal, to the equally extended, slowly unfolding, rumbling cloud painting "Deep Calls To Dub" by legendary Lustmord, Seedmouth is a collection of deeply evocative, electronically generated soundscapes. In the introductory essay to the compilation Matthew F. Riley of Cold Spring Records loosely defines the music on Seedmouth as dark ambient. However, he makes it clear that 'ambient' is a rather ambiguous umbrella term, and concludes that "Seedmouth is a series of atmospheres, your own interpretation and imagination will determine its 'ambience.'"

          Seedmouth opens with a series of apocalyptic theme songs by Inade, Illusion Of Safety and Deutsch Nepal. "Surgery" is not surprisingly one of the most aggressive pieces on the CD, with the dense, echoing percussions typical of Deutsch Nepal. A number of strange, disconcerting effects and voice samples are inserted throughout, and a fragile curtain of harmonics linger in the background, almost completely drowned out by the dominant, crashing impacts of the various drums and other devices. Illusion Of Safety evokes a similar mood through more minimal and subtle means. "The Most Familiar Enemy" sounds like looped tones of a violin layered on top of one another, producing a menacing drone. This carpet of monotone sound is pierced intermittently by chimy, icy tinklings. Inade again displays a more expansive soundpicture; a terminal voice repeatedly exhales the title words "Gihad Khor" over a background of caustic noise emissions. Deep reverberating drum rolls turn the expiring engine over, and moves the piece forward.
          On a different note, the tracks by Cranioclast and John Watermann rely on the strangeness and unexpectedness of their sounds to create an atmosphere of unease. On "The Gestalt of the Doppelganger," Cranioclast interrupts their otherwise compelling pattern of rhythms and samples, with a gyrating, robotic grind. Similarly, the shimmering synth harmonies of Watermann's "A Bewildering Number Of Brides" are torn by the sudden eruptions of violent rattles.
          Seedmouth also contains a series of pieces that are perhaps best described as aural still lives. Inanna's contribution is one example; a deep, rumble of sound that hovers on the spot for seven minutes, with only very subtle, and almost inaudible sound effects adding texture to this voyage through the heart of a storm. Mikhail Atom's and Experimental Audio Research's tracks are in the same vein, although their sounds and moods are drastically different from Inanna's. "N2" is an exceedingly beautiful ascent into thin celestial airs. The piece has a streamlike quality to it, but the sounds used remain unaltered throughout the piece, creating a sensation as of floating in free space. "Ring Modulator" is the shortest track on the CD, and consists of sounds that sound as if they had been brought forth by wind instruments. These sounds have been manipulated electronically, cut-up, and layered, conjuring up a euphoric, swirling atmosphere of fragmented brassy sound.
          While not breaking with the overall mood and sound of the CD, the tracks delivered by Band Of Pain and Jawbox are more developmental, and almost play like soundtracks for short films. Emerging out of a thunder storm, "Bluebell Hill" by Band Of Pain features a dark string-like theme over a background of sirens, voices and other effects. As if experienced from inside a vehicle driving through the night, the background sounds constantly change, ending in a brief sequence of church bells. Jawbox's "Chemical Wedding" also develops throughout its eight minute duration. The thematic elements are more melodically arranged than on the majority of the songs on the compilation; the rhythms that are introduced later in the piece also follow more conventional patterns.
          Seedmouth ends with an extended, and very beautiful piece by Lustmord. "Deep Calls to Dub" constantly mutates ever so subtlely; the sounds employed all sound very alien and cosmic, and the atmosphere established, as the piece slowly flows ahead, is mysterious and otherworldly.

          Cold Spring is to be commended for bringing together a roster of musicians, whose work flows smoothly with one another's. Seedmouth is a great gulp of fresh air that will please those with a fondness for dark, electronically generated music. The eleven pieces collected here all push towards the extreme of musical expression, and the result is a startling and often disconcerting listen.

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