Horologium - Atavistic Americana
Last year last X-mas I had a dream! Something about receiving a great industrial record... which I didn´t get. I ended up with socks and whiskey. Well... the socks were in über-mensch quality, and who can say no to a whiskey??! Nevertheless, IF I did receive a great (and new) industrial record I could have ended up with this. The latest release from Poland-based Horologium. And this album is their number 12! Been in existence since 2005.
So yes. Slovakia... Laibach? Borghesia?... And more Laibach!. Ahh well, this act actually has more in common with British Test Dept and U.S Ministry (80s era). A brutal anti-Trump album that pierces the skin of your ears. A fusion between the neo-classical avant-garde, post-punk infused electronica, and old-school sample-frenzied industrialism. 7 tracks 32 minutes long, available by digital means and as a BEAUTIFUL vinyl as well!
First track welcomes the listener with the American national anthem. Sets the theme RIGHT, in the same (but still unique) fashion with Test Dept´s album the Unacceptable Face of Freedom. Weird classical cut-up samples, martial (early) Laibach´ish trumpets and drummings, militaristic salsa rhythms (sounds great!) with more cut-up samples churning mindless from a nearby television set.
Second track gets it down and dirty with excellent post-punk rhythms (Wardance with Killing Joke?). An I-feel-like-dancing piece with more of the avant-garde classism on top of the awesome drums. Eeerie strings add an extra layer of ambient creepiness to it. Interesting piece, kind of stuff that pioneers of industrial music would create back in the day.
The third offering has a minor resemblance to early Der Blutharsch. Dramatic violins, mystic and erratic human voices, deep ritualistic horns... efficient.
The fourth piece takes us back to the atom-bomb, to just remind us how the atom-bomb (and still) is the new god of a modern age. Like Leather Nun told us with Prime-mover! A more ambient and soundtrack-based piece with. Relaxing but... scary at the same time. The threat of the atom-bomb... it will stay with us for a very long time!. And this track nails it.
The fifth track is a sad piece. Samples of weeping women on it and funeral-like martial drummings... Nope, it doesn't sound like a bad cliche. There is also another sample going on with Trump saying ´And yes, we are willing to get along with other nations´. He is saying that at the moment when threating ritualistic tensions are rising. A certain element of that classic CMI-sound is at work here (smiles).
The Sixth track gets back to the classic martial rock drums and trumpets, not that far away from Laibach´s Die Liebe. Just more subtle orthodox and church-like elements to it. Sounds like a soundtrack for a modern Jesus being nailed to the American cross!.
Last track takes us up to the moon. Who was the first?!. The Russians or the Americans?!. This track (sadly?) proves it was the Americans. Or was it?!. Was it set-up with actors?. Was Russia the first on the moon ( or someone else? ). A highly mysterious ambiance piece... imagining Biosphere doing a remix for Laibach?. I love it.
And that is that. The LP/vinyl is a thing of sheer beauty, and the album is a bloody masterpiece that tells you a tale about the time when industrial music was hip to the punk-bone. Go and have a listen! I am also planning to do an interview with these lads, stay tuned!.
The fifth track is a sad piece. Samples of weeping women on it and funeral-like martial drummings... Nope, it doesn't sound like a bad cliche. There is also another sample going on with Trump saying ´And yes, we are willing to get along with other nations´. He is saying that at the moment when threating ritualistic tensions are rising. A certain element of that classic CMI-sound is at work here (smiles).
The Sixth track gets back to the classic martial rock drums and trumpets, not that far away from Laibach´s Die Liebe. Just more subtle orthodox and church-like elements to it. Sounds like a soundtrack for a modern Jesus being nailed to the American cross!.
Last track takes us up to the moon. Who was the first?!. The Russians or the Americans?!. This track (sadly?) proves it was the Americans. Or was it?!. Was it set-up with actors?. Was Russia the first on the moon ( or someone else? ). A highly mysterious ambiance piece... imagining Biosphere doing a remix for Laibach?. I love it.
And that is that. The LP/vinyl is a thing of sheer beauty, and the album is a bloody masterpiece that tells you a tale about the time when industrial music was hip to the punk-bone. Go and have a listen! I am also planning to do an interview with these lads, stay tuned!.
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