Released
Demo Material 1999


Label

Reviewed by
Kim Alexander

Contact
Scar Tissue

Visit
Scar Tissue Web



Last Edit/Update
02 June, 1999

Scar Tissue
&


(Form Alkaline graphic graciously stolen from
www.bigfootcom/~scartissue)

Demo Material
Phillip Caldwell & Steve Watkins

Track Listing

1. Alias    %
2. Explant
3. Laszik    +
4. Amanda's Room
5. Pique    +
6. Gazebo    +
7. Blurt    +
8. Compost    +
9. Estrogen
10. Fazemast    # %
11. Societies
12. MSG
13. Snippet    +
14. Syne    # %
15. Incisor 91991)
16. Wash    $
17. Beast Mix (just for fun)
[ + work in progress]
[ # remastered]
[ $ see, we can play]
[ % previously on compilation]

     Once again Steve Watkins and Phillip Caldwell have assembled some of their tastiest treats to date with the combined works of Scar Tissue and Form/ Alkaline on this demo CD.  There seems no end to what these two can accomplish in the areas of (dark) noise-wave and power percussion, not to mention the *organic* "Wash" (see, we can play) track which combines real drums and real guitar creating a real harmonic driven, drifting dark instrumental piece.
    Remastered works "Fazemast" and "Syne" (both previously released as is "Alias"), are as temptingly delicious as a new synth is to a hard core electro music creator.  Minimalist drums/percussion/bass and eerie dual pitched melodic tones is "Fazemast", while "Syne" rolls along to a tribal backbeat, stinging injections of synth and toys on guitar by Phillip.
    Scar Tissue can be defined by their power percussion and drumming laid over sampling of various expressive elements (sound samples and programming plus unusual guitar work) such as strange background growls or quiet howls, a few vocals but treated with various toys, and oftentimes a rolling progression with on-the-dime changes to keep our interest.
    A diverse track from this material would have to be the "Beast Mix" (7.33) track because of its dancey beat approach with a few spots of a jazzy latin tempo, but an overall minimalist percussion, (yet strong and powerful), scratchy and metallic synth. It has a slight feel of a twisted Lynch movie score, "...Then one morning when the sun did shine,  picked up their shovels and they walked in the mine... another day older and deeper in debt...", (Tackhead Megaphone vocals sample).   This track is a mix of loops taken from late 80s and WaxTrax-Era bands -- Ministry, New Order, Blondie, Thomas Dolby, Cabaret Voltaire and Kraftwerk and moves into the drums of "Land of Rape and Honey."  It was done "just for fun."
   Some of the more powerful-noise-wavey "kick-it-with-those-steady-beats" tracks are "Alias", "Pique", "Gazebo", "Blurt" (oooh yeah really nice), "Compost" and "Estrogen".  A few of the more softer in tone, less progressive in terms of heavy beats but more of drifting and smoother sonic information are: "Explant", "Laszik", "Amanda's Room" and "Societies" (dark and scary with a healthy dose of metal on metal).  "MSG" breaks down to a combination of crashing noisey percussion, vocal sampling of conversation, soft atmospheres and a powerful beat.  "Snippet" according to Steve is: "Just one synth and one drum loop going through a bunch of effects", bassy beats and hydraulic whispers fading in and out and is another 'work in progress' as are many of the tracks on this demo.  "Incisor" reminds me at the beginning of giant bees buzzing close by with some guy screaming in the background, a programmed drum beat, (tasty and dancy), with a roar here and there and moves into chaotic banging and synth garble neat its end.  According to Steve, "Incisor" is a track made a few years before Separator was released.
    Overall this is a great amount of diverse and intricate work, again, much of it is in progress. If you like any of the previous works by Scar Tissue, and are interested in the darker sounds of Form/Alkaline, watch for future releases by these two artists under both names.