track-by-track demise_o mp3 review
Archaoptryx
This track was fantastic! Have you ever brushed your teeth with an electric toothbrush when you're tired and maybe feeling a little sensitive, only to have the quiet buzzing grow louder and louder until your whole head is vibrating and you want to throw up but your teeth feel clean? That's exactly how I felt for the first 5:50 minutes of this song. Close to the six minute mark, Demise_O pushed his game even further, stepping it up to sonic levels I barely knew were possible. The noise was so loud that I couldn't focus on anything else. The music began pulsating louder and faster, and I imagined small toy armies slaughtering millions of innocent people with the never-ending shots from their small laser-powered weapons. And then in it ended.
Mausoleum
An ever-increasing wave of noise became deafening, as small, high-pitched repetitive sounds relentlessly barraged my ears. This was topped by haunting, high-pitched cries of agony, the release of angry souls flooding my sonic sensibilities. The deep organ brought a much-needed nod toward church-going spirituality, a quick glimpse of something potentially beautiful through the pain and despair of dying. I felt as though I was back in the wild west and each of my limbs found itself tied to a different hose as a gun-shot sent them scouring in different directions. If this is what death sounds like, kill me now.
Double Bass Fishing
This may come from the album "Indigestible offerings," but this song is anything if not digestible! The lively competing bass lines surely draw inspiration from Demise_O's friend and bass god, Latin Jesus. It is like the souls of Latin Jesus and Demise_O are tangling together in play fight, while slowly rising above the earth so all can see the glory and goodness and musicality they have to offer. I would love to see the music video.
Floydian Slip
This amazing song is from the album "The Bolomise Experiment," which I assume means Demise_O recorded the song while wearing a bolo tie. As soon as this track started, I could picture Demise_O scouring the desert in his bolo tie, riding high on his horse in his corn rows and a gun in his holster. As the desert heat began to take its toll, Demise_O seemed to be summon a mirage of dancing gypsies, taunting our lone cowboy with their lively dancing and full bellies. I suspect there is also a Pink Floyd reference somewhere in the song, but I couldn't find it.
External Sporidium
From the album "Your First Date," but this track is like no date I've ever been on. If only I could re-write my teenage years, I would choose to spend those days in an abandoned warehouse where shrieks echoed for days and loud footsteps like drumbeats relentlessly followed my every move as people were electrocuted with live wires in the background. Around the 2:15 mark, the song hits an agonizing climax all too early, much like the young love Demise_O seems to be summoning in the song. Around the 3:26 mark, the song is overtaken by angry scratching noises and erupts for the second time. This is followed by awkward silence and a few lingering drum beats. It's like puppy love all over again.
Faded Signals
Also from the "Your First Date" album, this is certainly Demise_O's most nostalgic track. Pulsating sounds throughout the track seem to be taking a cue from sadtrombone.com. If I had to wager a guess, this track seems to be Demise_O reflecting on young love lost too early, perhaps to his girlfriend slutting around on him or being dumped by her after spending too many dates capturing the shrill cry of dying animals on his cassette tape.
The Bitch-slap Enthusiast
This song is from "Early Demise" - a video-game like guitar riff permeates the opening strains. This particular song yearns out for the gorgeous vocal stylings of Latin Jesus. Demise_O's work is purely instrumental, but I feel like lyrics could only add to this masterpiece. I would love to see the Grass Heat take it on. I imagine Latin Jesus listens to this track in his car with the windows down, moving his hips alone in the car where (sadly) no one can see.
Arpeggiotron
I immediately understood the title of this song, as it does indeed sound like a young robot learning to play his arpeggios over and over after school. This brought back the monotomy of my own youth, as I struggled to play a squealing violin for minutes at a time before abandoning it to take a nap instead. This "tron" had no such luck, as the arpeggios were drilled again and again and again. The song had a sad quality to it, leading me to believe that the young robot may be the son of a dementor, or at the very least, live in an abusive household.
Another Space and Time
By far my favorite track on the album. The deep almost-cheerful riff trudged on tirelessly throughout the song, echoing Benjamin's conception of Western, homogenous, linear time. The guttural bass sounds, however, forcefully complicated this spacio-temporal conception with an almost-Bergonsian reminder that the past is often more present than the future.
Crunchabunch Contingency
Though I was looking forward to this song, I have to admit, I couldn't bear to listen to it after absorbing so much sonic mastery in one sitting.
Overall, these songs were unrelenting in their quest to etch their beats into my brain, slowly destroying brain cells my body spent years cultivating. Demise_O, I applaud you.
All tracks are available for free download here