Genre/Influences: Industrial-Techno, Experimental.

Format: Digital.

Background/Info: Amantra is another solo-project driven by Thierry Arnal (TH.A, Scorched Earth Policy Lab ao). Under the Amantra moniker he already released works on Thisco, Ohm Resistance and Kvitnu. He released collaborative productions together with Rasalasad, Luke Lund or Submerged. I know the artist for his Cinematographic and somewhat Experimental approach while this new work, which comes closer to a mini-album, has been introduced as something different.

Content: The (mini)-album features 6 cuts, taking off with a heavy Industrial-Techno piece filled with multiple effects. This approach is quite representative for the entire work although I noticed a few ‘softer’ passages supported with an extra Ambient atmosphere. The last track is clearly composed to set dancefloors on fire; carried by a solid bass line and the perfect symbiosis between Techno and Industrial.

+ + + : Thierry Arnal clearly sounds fascinated by sounds and noises he likes to transpose into something new; like injecting his own stamp into the original sound. He empowered this sonic puzzle with heavy beats, creating this somewhat experimental format of Industrial-Techno music. And especially the already mentioned final cut “Anthropocentrism” is a real smasher. The track is also more elaborated than the others. Among the ‘softer’ pieces I also have to mention “System Failure”.

– – – : Amantra is not composing the typical Industrial-Techno sound and I even have a doubt if it’s the original intention. That’s probably why it remains pretty Experimental and maybe too complex for dancefloors.

Conclusion: “Alteration” sounds like a new approach of Industrial-Techno; complex and pure sonic anarchy!

Best songs: “Anthropocentrism”, “System Failure”.

Rate: (7).

Artist: www.facebook.com/Thierry.Arnal70

Label: www.m-tronic.com / www.facebook.com/mtroniclabel

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, abstract, dark-ambient.

Background/Info: In the “Thisobey”-series we got familiarized with Rasalasad joining hands with other guest projects. This latest release, available in a small cardboard box features French artist Von Magnet and his compatriots Wildshores (known from releases on Last Call Records, Optical Sound, M-Tronic…). “Magnethism” features one single cut.

Content: The composition is a single cut over the 17 minutes revealing an impressive sound canvas. It sounds cold and obscure, mysterious and spooky through the addition of ghost-like whispering vocals. The work is somewhere in between experimental and dark-ambient, but also revealing electronic treatments and effects.

+ + + : “Magnethism” is a fully successful experiment between different artists who each seem to have put their own sound color and experimental taste to the work. It seems to be the meeting between visionary artists who clearly don’t care about established genres. I like the raw sound treatments and especially the passages with some echoing-like electronics. The vocals definitely are one of the most specific aspects of the work. It creates a delicious, but mysterious touch.

– – – : The track sometimes sounds like an appendix of different genres, but in the end you can’t label it as one specific music style. That’s probably what makes me call it ‘experimental’ music. But I especially regret there’s only one track composed by this trio.

Conclusion: “Magnethism” covers different genres, but will mainly appeal to lovers of experimental and ambient music.

Best songs: “Magnethism”.

Rate: (7).

Bands: http://rasalasad.tumblr.com / www.vonmag.net / www.facebook.com/Von–Magnet-111081538963964 / www.facebook.com/wild.shores

Label: www.thisco.net / www.facebook.com/thiscorecords

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, psychedelic, drones, cinematographic.

Background/Info: “Thisturbia” is a next release featuring Fernando Cerqueira aka Rasalasad working with another formation. Amantra is a French project driven by Thierry Arnal. He released some work on Avalanche Records and Terranean Recordings.

Content: The work takes off with heavy, ambient blasts joined by dark noises. Quite progressively both artists are experimenting with different influences moving from cinematographic and somewhat psychedelic-like passages towards heavy, resonating drones.

+ + + : “Thisturbia” is an overwhelming production covering different sources of inspiration. I was mainly impressed by the global sound production, which comes mainly through in the crushing ambient parts and heavy drones. “Peak” is an absolute masterpiece.

– – – : Rasalasad is not exactly a formation that can be labeled as one established style. That’s maybe a problem when you have to define the work of this project.

Conclusion: “Thisturbia” is a fully successful collaboration covering a wide arsenal of influences and music styles. Both artists definitely have to renew this experiment.

Best songs: “Peak”, “Rapid Eye”, “Awakening”.

Rate: (7½).

Bands: http://rasalasad.tumblr.com / www.facebook.com/AMANTRA.Official

Label: www.thisco.net / www.facebook.com/thiscorecords

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: Ambient, industrial, experimental.

Background/Info: This work is collaboration between Portuguese projects Rasalasad and Shhh… The CD is available in a small cardboard box. This collaboration is part of a series (cf. “Thisobey”) featuring label artists with other, invited ‘guests’. On “Apophenia” two labelmates have been featured.

Content: “Apophenia” is covered by an obscure and mysterious sound atmosphere. It sounds definitely ambient-like and yet joined by industrial noises and electronic manipulations. The 4 tracks are pretty diversified, in the end revealing an experimental and minimalistic sound creation.

+ + + : This is a successful collaboration between two artists who definitely appears to be complementary. I like the versatile character of the composition, but especially the electronic exploration and manipulation the tracks have been made. The slow rhythm makes the production more accessible.

– – – : “Apophenia” sounds rather complex and needs a few listening. It’s not exactly the most typical release so it’s hard to label.

Conclusion: “Apophenia” is a pure Portuguese experimental work featuring two artists with a similar feeling for sound creation and minimalism.

Best songs: “Trans – Mathematics”, “Mirror World – Don’t Panic”.

Rate: (7).

Bands: http://rasalasad.tumblr.com / www.facebook.com/shhhmusic

Label: www.thisco.net / www.facebook.com/thiscorecords

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, industrial, ambient.

Background/Info: Behind Rasalasad is hiding Thisco label owner Fernando Cerqueira, a Portuguese artist who been into music for a long time. Next to his work under Rasalasad he also got involved in other music projects like Walt Thisney, Croniamental and Ras.Al.Ghul. “Thismorphia” is the third full length album by Rasalasad and the first one in 13 years.

Content: This work mixes dark-ambient influences characterized by dark, humming sound waves, industrial noises and minimal electronic treatments. The work is pretty experimental, but also diversified because of the great sonic arsenal that has been used.

But it also is an interesting work because of the involvement of multiple guests. Artists like Jarboe, Von Magnet and Merzbow contributed to this work by some spoken words or noise sources. You’ll discover other involved artists as well plus a remix by Shhh…

+ + + : Diversity definitely is the key and main element of this work. It rapidly becomes clear that Rasalasad likes to experiment with different sources of inspiration, but he also likes to work with guests. “Thismorphia” became an open-minded work, like a fusion between different genres and the symbiosis between rough sound treatments and artistic arrangements. I like the industrial element running through the work and whispering vocals emerging on different cuts. It creates a somewhat ghost-like effect, which accentuates the mystery of the ambient side.

– – – : “Thismorphia” is an album, which despite of its diversity, needs several listening before you really can get into it. The experimental side is not the most accessible one.

Conclusion: If you don’t know this band yet, or you simply have forgotten what the sound is all about, “Thismorphia” is an interesting although complex experimental work to get more familiar with the sound.

Best songs: “Night Walk”, “Deriva”, “This”, “Astellar”.

Rate: (7).

Band: http://rasalasad.tumblr.com

Label: www.thisco.net / www.facebook.com/thiscorecords

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