Title: Full Spectrum Dominance
Artist: Black Lung
Genre: Electronic
Release Date: 16th June 2009
Label: Tympanik Audio
Album Review
According to the very detailed elucidations by the “American Forces Press Service” on the inside of the digipak to BLACK LUNG’s ‘Full Spectrum Dominance’, the music on this audio carrier is “…designed for the very titans of our great society, those who rule with a pen…and a sword.” Ok, either this guy is insane or he has just an awesome fun confusing his listeners with such things. But what’s really important here is the music and that’s what we’re going to elaborate on now.
’The Imperial March’ starts with a noise collage, leading into pulsing, humming synth builds accentuated by dirty live drums. Following that up is ‘The Hostmen of Tyne’, using an at times chaotic set of effects and sounds incorporating overdriven and analogue electronics, propelled by the urgent momentum of rumbling patterns. The album’s title track goes for a less rhythm-driven approach than the previous ones, rather setting up an unsettling mood right from the beginning, soaring in various sonic shapes over throbs of bass and minimalist down-tempo beats. With ‘The Great Unconscious’ another chapter of ‘Full Spectrum Dominance’ begins, revealing lush, disquieting ambient soundscapes which at times could have been taken from the VANGELIS soundtrack to ‘Blade Runner’ as well.
‘The World Without Us’. Some say that this would be the best that could happen, for the planet could finally find time to regenerate, but David Thrussell paints a different picture like from a science-fiction movie. There’s no human life anymore, only the cold precision of machines, mankind has built to serve them and who disposed of those creating them eventually. Not so far off if you think about it. ‘The Feminine Void’ is the noise inside the head of a mentally disordered person; the screams of a thousand tormented souls in unison, distorted beyond recognition. It’s frightening and at the same time fascinating, and fascinating also is a good term to describe the entire album with its iridescent contrasts that will please more than just one group of listeners. As for me, I prefer the ambient pieces over the others. Really masterful stuff!
Tracklist
01. The Imperial March - 3:55
02. The Hostmen of Tyne - 5:07
03. Full Spectrum Dominance - 5:54
04. The Territorial Imperative - 5:11
05. The Regular Plot - 4:14
06. The Great Unconscious - 7:13
07. The Wonderful Wizard of Ounce - 6:16
08. The World Without Us - 7:56
09. The Feminine Void - 4:32
10. The Neuroses of Nostalgia - 4:34
Line-Up
David Thrussell
Website
http://www.myspace.com/blacklung01
Cover Picture
Rating
Music: 7
Sound: 7
Extras: -
Total: 7 / 10
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