Cordis Cincti Serpente & Sara Ballini - Luziferischs tantra
Cordis Cincti Serpente is an old Italian ritual-industrial act with its focus on esoteric occultism, and Sara Ballini had joined up on the latest album. Sara Ballini is an author of the occult and a leading figurehead in Luciferianism and Left-Hand-Path magic, as well as doing some recordings together with Michael W. Ford.
This over 55-minute album contains 11 tracks. The album has been released on cassette and on CD as well. I have the CD, and the jewel case comes in an almost-clear plastic bag covering the one tit with a blood-transparent sticker (smart).
The first track is called Der Tanz. Murky underground sound of earth... or distant underground explosions. A tone-ish drone, lots of weird shivering sound effects, voices talking backwards. Really quiet, eerie, and subtle stuff. Perfect for late-night listening.
We continue with the second track called Die Brücke. Which closely follows the former track. There´s this feeling of listening to something that is hidden. A very enigmatic feel for sure.
The third track, Algol, offers something else. Low-fi space drones give the listener the sensation of falling, accompanied by subtle, ritualistic tam-tam drums. There´s also the looped recording of a female voice being engaged in some sexual activity (of some sort). Creepy, deep, and serpentine voices slither around the recording, giving the track that specific Luciferian and erotic feel to it.
The fourth track is called Schatten. Which is a track that kind of functions as a means to end the third track (I think). Some of the same sounds continue here, still following the aesthetic of sound.
The fifth track, Alraune. Common belief is that the sperm from a hanged man would create this strange plant/root. Which is a plant to be used for magical means? A very high tone, Shivering glitch sounds... and more of the strange Warped voices, both reversed and very slow in speed. Some cool-sounding synth keys in there as well.
The sixth track is called Canis Tindalos. I think (or could be ) a homage to a story by Frank Belknap Long called Hounds of Tindalos. A story of a time-travelling, space-cowboy who encounters these strange and horrific creatures that inhabit the angles of time... while we humans (and all other common life) descend from curves. Some reversed talking, and non-reversed, in Italian... Is it from the story? Could be. A very spacious ambient-soundscape track, reaching the very gulf of space.
Track number seven, Litanei der Vergessenen. Getting back to Coil´s How To Destroy Angels here. Spoken Italian words, various rhythmic gong instruments... another strange sound in there, the sound of someone breathing through a mask? Could be. Very high regarding the aesthetic of ritual music here, and very sincere as well.
The rest of the album keeps on churning that highly mysterious and seductive esoteric sound, always with an eye on the red line/aesthetic. It´s a very sound and thought-provoking album, since it´s a VERY quiet and subtle one. It´s pure ritual minimalism. Very focused and very to the point. Not cartoon satan with sex, something else... which is hard to understand or comprehend, but keeps the listener curious and intrigued through the listening process.
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