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Title: 120 Tage - The Fine Art of Beauty & Violence
Artist: Mona Mur & En Esch
Genre: Industrial / Metal / Avantgarde
Release Date: 15th February 2009
Label: Pale Music



Album Review

EN ESCH probably is most notable for his work with KMFDM which he left in 1999 and MONA MUR already roused much attention with collaboration with legendary EINSTÜRZENDE NEUBAUTEN or YELLO. Those two creative minds have joined forces to create a unique piece of work, titled ‘120 Tage - The Fine Art of Beauty and Violence’ which saw its release in the midst of February 2009.

We’re going to start of this journey with the metallic industrial noises of the opener ‘Candy Cane’ soon being enriched by the sharp riffs of En Esch, a layer of white noise and the beautiful, distorted voice of Mon which is joined in the later course  by Esch’s disquieting vocals. ‘Die Ballade vom ertrunkenen Mädchen’ begins with minor organ keys flooding the air with an oppressing mood before electronic sequences mix in and Mona Mur begins to perform the poetic lyrics with an intensity and verve that is outstanding, while a rhythmic underground comprising hard guitars and distorted beats takes hold. The centre piece of the album ‘120 Tage’ bears a theatrical spirit inside its arrangement. It feels like some sort of dark, violent theatre play; odd and appealing at the same time. ‘The Thin Red Line’ is permeated by the harshness and frigid cold radiated by the E-Guitars combined with a constant noise current that appears like a river in full spate. ‘Surabaya Johnny’ strikes up forlorn and gloomy tones again. It tells of a girl falling in love with a sailor who already came to doubtful fame through a certain kind of behaviour along the coast she lives. But fatally she doesn’t notice until it’s too late.

The darkly glowering ‘The Wound’ is the last act of this play. It remains in down-tempo regions as long as it lasts featuring the trademark sharp riffs you could cut metal with, I guess. ‘120 Tage - The Fine Art of Beauty and Violence’ is an extraordinary work by two renowned artists. Sophisticated, raw and in its very own way beautiful! It might take some time getting used to this sound but once you found the key you won’t stop listening to it.


Tracklist

01. Candy Cane - 3:42
02. Die Ballade vom ertrunkenen Mädchen - 3:13
03. 120 Tage - 4:12
04. The Thin Red Line - 5:04
05. Visions & Lies - 5:10
06. Eintragsfliegen - 4:16
07. Snake - 6:47
08. Mon Amour - 4:57
09. Surabaya Johnny - 8:01
10. Der Song von Mandeley - 3:29
11. The Wound - 6:41


Line-up

Mona Mur & En Esch


Website

http://www.myspace.com/monamurenesch


Cover Picture




Rating

Music: 8
Sound: 8
Extras: -
Total: 8 / 10


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