Dissonance – Ascent (CD Album – HAKATAK International)
Genre/Influences: Indie-pop.
Background/Info: The first work of the American project Dissonance brings us back to the 90s. They in the meantime have released a considerable number of works, unleashing their latest work on HAKATAK International, which became the home of the project. “Ascent” is the fifth full length by Cat Hall’s project Dissonance although it looks more like a mini-album as only six songs have been featured here.
Content: Cat Hall has invited several guests to achieve the work. Jim Marcus (Die Warzau) did the production while Kurt Larson (Information Society) is probably the most famous guest singer (cf. “Poison Kiss”). The work reveals a real diversity in the singers, which injects extra variety. Sound-wise Dissonance moves from pure indie-pop music to a kind of electro pop-rock. The songs are rather dynamic.
+ + + : The most noticeable element of the work and definitely main strength emerges from some pretty cool sound treatments. I like the flat bass line running through “Poison Kiss” and some of the sweeps. Cat Hall’s grave timbre of voice also is something particular.
– – – : I’m missing a highlight among the tracklist.
Conclusion: I can’t say that this album had a serious impact on me. It’s a pleasant work, but missing some little details to speak about a fully successful work.
Best songs: “Taste”, “Poison Kiss”.
Rate: (6).
Artist: www.facebook.com/CatHallDissonance
Label: www.facebook.com/hakatakinternational
About Dissonance
Dissonance began in the early 1990s within the Texas synth-pop scene, playing Dallas venues including the Lizard Lounge, the Curtain Club and Trees. The project caught the ear of Paul Robb, who signed it in 1996 to his new label, HAKATAK International; the self-titled debut album followed in 1997, produced by Robb. Cat Hall, the stage name of Dissonance’s singer, also released a more aggressive solo work with Robb, “Come To Mama” (1998, HAKATAK). A second Dissonance album, “Reincarnate” (2001, Nilaihah Records), preceded a hiatus that lasted until 2015, when Cat Hall revived the project; “Void” (2017) and the “Sycamores” EP (2018) followed on HAKATAK, ahead of “Ascent” (2019). Discogs counts “Ascent” as Dissonance’s fourth full-length album, one fewer than the “fifth full length” description in this review. “Ascent” was produced and co-written by Jim Marcus of Die Warzau and GoFight, and features Kurt Larson of Information Society on vocals.
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