Philipp Münch – Plays Ars Moriendi (Album – Ant-Zen)

Genre/Influences: Industrial, Trance, EBM, Experimental, Minimal-Electro.

Format: Digital, Cassette.

Background/Info: Philipp Münch –known from so many bands and projects, moves on the recipe he already had been experimented with earlier this year released EP “Über Leben 3” on, which he reworked old songs from his old project Ars Moriendi. This album and its title speak for itself, the artist revisiting twelve songs from Ars Moriendi. The project was set up in the late 80s and mainly active during the 90s.

Content: Philipp Münch doesn’t simply recover the songs from dust by doing a new mastering; he simply reworked and revisited the old songs into a very own approach. This approach is a bit comparable to the influences revealed at the new Synapscape album. It’s a mix of Electronic influences; from Industrial to Trance to EBM to pure Electronic minimalism. Some songs are clearly evoking the early 80s and a band as Throbbing Gristle comes into mind when discovering “Stimulation”. Other cuts are more into heavy Industrial outbursts, sometimes becoming pretty Trance-driven. Both debut songs are there to illustrate this heavy sound. “Splatter Me!” and “Meiner Selbst” both will appeal to open-minded EBM lovers.

+ + + : I think it must be a true challenge revisiting old songs from a project you’re no longer involved with by transposing them into something different. Philipp Münch fully succeeded in his goal and just as on the new Synapscape-work I’m totally conquered by the artist’s way of working; mixing styles and just following his own intuition. But the songs also reveal impressive sound treatments. It’s an overwhelming production that mainly comes through at the beginning. “Bewegung” and “Deeper Trance” both are phenomenal pieces of modern Industrial music. “Stimulation” sounds like a wink to early 80s stuff, keeping the original spirit of the song alive. And even the EBM approach shown at “Splatter Me!” and “Meiner Selbst” stands for sound intelligence.

– – – : There’re a very few pieces that can’t fully convince me, but globally speaking it’s just a detail when listening to this great piece of music.

Conclusion: “Plays Ars Moriendi” is a great and creative ode to the memory of Ars Moriendi while confirming the genius of Philipp Münch. This album has something schizophrenic, but it sounds better than any kind of madness…

Best songs: “Stimulation”, “Bewegung”, “Deeper Trance”, “Splatter Me!”, “Meiner Selbst”, “Armageddon”.

Rate: (9).

Artist: www.facebook.com/philippmuench.de

Label: www.ant-zen.com / www.facebook.com/antzen.official

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