Amorphous – Moth Metaphor (Album – Razgrom Music)
Genre/Influences: EBM.
Format: Digital, CD.
Background/Info: I’ll always link Gil O. Santis with the great Morgue project, which was a true reference in the Brazilian EBM scene from the 90s. Later on the artist set up Amorphous as a solo-project and has released some great works. “Moth Metaphor” is Amorphous’ third full length studio album (there also is a remix- and live album) and the first one released on Razgrom Music. Notice by the way the CD edition features three extra songs.
Content: Amorphous is clearly driven by good-old EBM and Frontline Assembly might be seen as a potential source of inspiration, but globally speaking this project has something apart and very personal. The composition is accomplished with intelligence revealing elaborated song structures, minimalism and ghost-like atmospheres. The songs are dark, which is an aspect accentuated by the ghost-like vocals’ production. One of the most surprising cuts is “Our Deepest Fear” featuring a French poem by Belgian ‘chanson grand master’ Jacques Brel.
+ + + : Amorphous simply confirms the potential exposed at previous albums. This is a styled and accomplished EBM, an intelligent format of body music resulting in a very personal approach. The songs are sophisticated, revealing an impressive number of layers with minimal-like sound arrangements on top. There’s a perfect twist between power and atmospheres, the last part of the work becoming darker. And I especially recommend the CD version for its bonus songs “Confinamiento” and “Kingdom Of Darkness (Empire Version)”. As a great admirator of Jacques Brel I’ve been particularly touched by the samplings referring to this great artist.
– – – : I don’t have real minus points about this work, but it remains a pity Amorphous is still an underrated artist.
Conclusion: If you’re in search of intelligent and totally accomplished EBM, you better purchase this remarkable work by Amorphous.
Best songs: “Confinamiento”, “Kingdom Of Darkness (Empire Version)”, “Our Deepest Fear”, “Blackout”, “Unknown Things”, “Nonlinear Future”.
Rate: (8).
Artist: www.facebook.com/amorphous.sound
Label: www.razgrom.com / www.facebook.com/pages/Razgrom-Music/218060094876247
About Amorphous
Amorphous is the solo project of Brazilian musician Gil O. Santos, who first gained attention as a member of the EBM act Morgue. Santos has described Morgue as starting as a duo, growing into a trio and ending as himself alone, and said he then moved through sound design, film scoring, psy-trance, tech-house and lounge production between 2000 and 2010.
The wish to return to EBM and dark-wave production led to Amorphous. “Moth Metaphor”, released on the Russian label Razgrom Music, is described by Santos as the project’s most mature and technically polished release to date.
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I have been working for over 30 years with Side-line as the main reviewer. My taste is eclectic, uncoventional and I prefer to look for the pearls, even if the bands are completely unknown, thus staying loyal to the Side-Line philosophy of nurturing new talents.
