Genre/Influences: Experimental, industrial.

Background/Info: I didn’t find that much information about HΣRMΣS, which seems to be a new project.  

Content: The work features 2 songs and 2 remixes. The work of HΣRMΣS is driven by an experimental taste mixed with some industrial influences and driven by linear rhythms. The track “Cirrosis Mental” also features a kind of horror-like vocals. The other track is somewhat bombastic and revealing a kind of anarchistic industrial style.

Among the remixes you’ll find Samuel Kerridge.

+ + + : The main strength of this artist is the very personal approach in sound. It’s a sound you can’t really compare with other artists and that’s always positive as it reflects creativity. From both tracks I definitely prefer “Cirrosis Mental”, which has something anguishing. The remix by Samuel Kerridge is even more dark and staggering.

– – – : The B-side track “Ayer Era La Muerte” and its “Caos + Inmediatismo Remix” can’t convince me.

Conclusion: HΣRMΣS clearly stands for an unusual industrial format. I can’t say that I was impressed, but it however reveals an interesting approach.

Best songs: “Cirrosis Mental”, “Cirrosis Mental – Samuel Kerridge Remix”.

Rate: (6½).

Label: www.coumrecords.com

Inferno Sound Diaries

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.

www.side-line.com

Genre/Influences: Experimental-techno, IDM.

Background/Info: Samuel Kerridge definitely is one of those visionary artists who’s not dealing with one explicit and established music style, but just covers different influences to create a very own sound. That’s what he already masterly accomplished on phenomenal albums such as “Always Offended Never Ashamed” and “Fatal Light Attraction”. He now strikes back with a new 12” revealing 3 new cuts.

Content: “The Silence Between Us” remains a sonic enigma on, which the producer reveals cutting bass lines mixed with somewhat tribal elements. In the end I should say it all appears to be an experimental techno format carried by nervous rhythms and bombastic arrangements.

+ + + : The tracks have been progressively built up revealing the meticulous writing of the artist and high-tech production skills. I especially like the heavier and into bombast sounding treatments. I can’t say it’s the best work I’ve heard from Kerridge although it remains totally avant-garde minded.

– – – : This 12” is one of the most experimental works I’ve heard from Samuel Kerridge. It’s the kind of work that can’t leave you unmoved although I’m missing an apotheosis.

Conclusion: This work is not exactly the one I would recommend to music lovers who never heard of Samuel Kerridge before. It’s a new experience where the artist is maybe going a bit too far in his sonic exploration.

Best songs: “Possession/Control”.

Rate: (6½).

Band: www.facebook.com/samuelkerridge

Label: www.facebook.com/Downwards–Records-255360997821158

Inferno Sound Diaries

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.

www.side-line.com

Genre/Influences: Experimental, IDM, techno.

Background/Info: Behind Grey Branches is hiding Belgian producer &  DJ Yves De Mey. He can already look back at an impressive discography although Grey Branches is a project he set up during the past few years. “Neuroclaps” has been released on vinyl format and features 10 tracks.

Content: The work is a fine collection of multiple influences, which are moving from IDM to a kind of abstract techno. In the end it all sounds pretty experimental, but with a real care to create great sound sculptures. It sounds pretty complex, but fascinating and might appeal to lovers of projects such as Samuel Kerridge, Diamond Version and Kangding Ray.

+ + + : “Neuroclaps” is a visionary work, which is bringing different influences together. The work was accomplished by amazing sound treatments and a powerful production. It’s a sophisticated composition featuring deep, resonating sounds and very personal sound effects. The cadence is now driven by broken beats and then by a hard kick.

– – – : The sound formula sometimes appears to be a little predictable, but you don’t hear me complaining. The experimental and avant-garde approach will be probably the main difficulties to catch the attention of a wider audience.

Conclusion: Grey Branches is one of those visionary artists leaving techno music to lazy producers while creating an unique visionary sound, which comes close to IDM and a kind of abstract techno music. I fully enjoyed this sonic experience!

Best songs: “Bevel”, “Automatic Gallows”, “Acrylic Hunger”, “Rammed”.

Rate: (8).

Band: www.knobsounds.com / www.facebook.com/Yves–De–Mey-193870434015574

Label: www.facebook.com/innersurfacemusic

Inferno Sound Diaries

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.

www.side-line.com

Genre/Influences: Experimental, tribal, industrial, ambient.

Background/Info: Last year Ancestral Voices unleashed its debut full length “Night Of Visions”, which was a very cool surprise and especially if you’re fond of intelligent and creative electronic formats. We here get 2 EP’s (both available on vinyl format as well) each featuring two remixes of songs that were originally released on the album.

Content: “Night Of Visions Remixed Part 1” takes off with a rather dark and repetitive remix of “Invocations” by Abdulla Rachim. There are some industrial elements emerging at the surface of this version. We next get a remix of “Feathered Serpent” by ASC & Sam KDC, which remains dark, but is mainly driven by some cool and low resonating experimental techno vibes.

“Night Of Visions Remixed Part 2” takes off an experimental way as well. “Sleepless Ritual” was remixed by sound architect Samuel Kerridge revealing impressive noise treatments. The best is yet to come with the remix of “Vine Of The Soul” by Pact Infernal. This is a dark and mysterious piece where industrial- and ambient music are joining forces.

+ + + : All the remixes add something different, but the common element remains the dark and experimental sound approach, which is originally created by Ancestral Voices. If you like great sound treatments and a high-tech sound production I can only, but recommend the remixes by Samuel Kerridge and especially Pact Infernal.

– – – : My only regret is that the tribal input from the album has been a bit lost.

Conclusion: Both EP’s are a very cool and fascinating continuation of the “Night Of Visions” full length. Both EP’s create an entity and that’s why you really have to get them both.

Best songs: “Vine Of The Soul – Pact Infernal Remix”, “Sleepless Ritual – Samule Kerridge Remix”.

Rate: (7½).

Band: www.facebook.com/ancestralvoices432

Label: www.samuraimusicgroup.com / www.facebook.com/samurai.music

Inferno Sound Diaries

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.

www.side-line.com

Genre/Influences: Industrial, experimental, electro-noise.

Background/Info: Samuel Kerridge is a Berlin based producer who received some recognition in the wider fields of techno music. He progressively evolved towards new sonic horizons, which he last year revealed on the album “Always Offended Never Ashamed”, which was an amazing piece of ambient high-tech music.

Content: This new album is a double 12” vinyl featuring a total of 7 songs. The global style and influences are different from the former work and more into an exploration of industrial electro creation and pure experimentalism. A few passages reveal the technoid basis of Kerridge, but it has been reworked into a minimal and even noise-minded electro format.

The vintage aspect of this work has been reinforced by impressive sonic manipulations. Some of the tracks are not exactly what I would call the most accessible format of electronic music, but it simply reveals the eclecticism of the artist and his impressive skills as a producer. Even some robotic and fragmented vocal passages are into the pure experimental vein of the work.

+ + + : The great sonic treatments and atypical industrial-noise format merged with technoid elements are absolutely avant-garde minded.

– – – : Some cuts are not exactly what I would define as ‘accessible’ for a wider audience. Samuel Kerridge maybe abused a bit of the experimental/minimal approach.

Conclusion: Samuel Kerridge clearly appears to be a visionary artist who’s innovation and analogue sound creation is like the future sound of industrial noise.

Best songs: “FLA-5”, “FLA-1”, “FLA-6”.

Rate: (7).

Band: www.facebook.com/Samuel–Kerridge-254101808045291

www.facebook.com/Downwards–Records-255360997821158

Inferno Sound Diaries

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.

www.side-line.com

Genre/Influences: High-tech-ambient.

Content: Samuel Kerridge has already released a considerable number EP’s on different labels, but his 2nd full length album appears to be a new beginning. This album was released by Contort, which was set up by Kerridge and his wife Hayley Kerridge. Contort is also known from event series organized by Sam- and Hayley Kerridge.

This opus is one of the most innovative ambient releases I’ve heard in my entire career as a journalist. Kerridge clearly deals with a dark and experimental side of electronics, which is mainly focused on manipulation of sounds and noises. It’s somewhere in between industrial and noise, but with a heavy and overwhelming dark-ambient touch hanging over the tracks. But the main particularity lays in the global production reveals the production skills of this artist. This producer mixes and records his work with a fine taste for magic effects and stereo treatments. The work results from the passion of an artist in search of high-tech. I would qualify this work as pure ‘sound design’.

The work is pretty experimental and therefore not accessible to a wider audience and yet I’m convinced it’s the kind of sound that will appeal to numerous lovers of avant-garde compositions. Kerridge is a totally addicted sound freak, which next to his electronic manipulations also like to experiment with guitar treatments.

“Always Offended Never Ashamed” is a freaky exposure of the man’s creativity. It’s an album that can compete with the most legendary and recognized dark-ambient artists, but with some particularities on top.

So there’s this freaky and ghost-like resonating vocal element in the background of the work. It sounds like a tenebrous, evil voice empowering the chilling party of the work. These ‘vocals’ were used as an extra noise input rather than real vocal parts. But you’ll notice real vocals on “TRN5” mixing female, spoken words in French and male sung parts. This tracks sounds like a great terror-soundscape.

The totally freaky “DAYT” is an absolute masterpiece in the creation of noise minimalism. The global production sounds like touched by the hand of an evil, but genius God. And I’d a similar impression when discovering “WOSN”, which really feels like a composition to awaken spirits. The global progression of this track also reflects the brilliance of this composer. He tolds you in his grip for more than 10 minutes. It sounds a bit cinematographic as well while elaborated with some industrial-like percussion parts.

“WIAGW” not only is the final track, but also another highlight. And here again Kerridge patiently and meticulously composed his sonic web made of haunting sequences and a few vocals to leave you totally breathless.

Conclusion: I was not that familiar with the work of Sam Kerridge, but the least I can say is that this vinyl is a truly obscure, but orgasmic experience in sound. This sound stands for the avant-garde of ambient music.

Best songs: “WOSN”, “DAYT”, “TRN5”, “GOFD”.

Rate: (DP:9)DP.

Band & Label: www.facebook.com/pages/Samuel-Kerridge/254101808045291 / http://drenchedindistortion.tumblr.com

Inferno Sound Diaries

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.

www.side-line.com