Title: Turning Point
Artist: Prospero
Genre: Electronic
Release Date: 8th February 2011
Label: Artoffact Records
Album Review
PROSPERO has been founded in early 2000 by Wade Anderson and the first release was put out in 2001 with the CDR ‘A Storm Is Coming’. PROSPERO’s second release was the double album ‘Spread The Infection’, released in 2004. Besides working on his own material, Anderson did a lot of remixes and reworks for other artists. His new album ‘Turning Point’ is his second release for Canadian label Artoffact Records.
The title track opens the album right away with a far Eastern touch in its melodic backdrop and an initial crackling, displaced by a distorted wind eventually before harsh drums kick in that in the further course are complemented by deep, bass-like hums. Following ‘Taiko’s Prophet’ initially consists of mostly of melodies, later to get enriched with the force of a martial rhythm. ‘Fallen Angel’ with its harsh riffing and cold patterns is solely dedicated to the industrial rock and therefore stands in sharp contrast to previous efforts. On short-lived ‘(introduction) To My Discipline’, tribal drums are swirling around electronic beat shards coupled with Rock’n’Roll riffing inclusions which all in all makes it an enjoyable listen. With ‘Reach’, PROSPERO is emphasizing his ambient side; wide textures are the predominant element, occasionally broken by leanings towards old-school-industrial. Closing ‘Growth And Decay’ picks up that thread, having more of an image triggering effect. It’s like you’d look at the world from its beginnings to the very end in fast motion. Civilizations rise and fall; entire races get wiped out and eventually everything dies.
Following the last track, the remix section of the album starts. The first one is a take by FRACTURED which hardly leaves something of the original intact, injecting a spirit of increased sonic experimentalism. It’s rare you hear me saying that but this one surpasses the original for me. For a while it seems that the XORCIST version of ‘Turning Point’ is completely devoid of any destructive distortion in comparison to the original. Some more moments into the track though, something appears to tear the beats apart to disappear almost as quickly as it came and ‘Fallen Angel’, here as ‘Witchcraft Mix by V Combust’, gives the track a truly unsettling mood with the urgency of ambient soundscapes and intricate patterns. All in all, I have to say that ‘Turning Point’ is not a masterpiece, even though it has some real stand-out tracks on it and if you’re into well-executed rhythm constructions you should definitely check it out.
Tracklist
01. Turning Point - 4:34
02. Taiko's Prophet - 6:28
03. Fallen Angel - 5:04
04. (introduction to my) Discipline - 2:51
05. Hunter - 3:57
06. Reach - 4:09
07. Louisiana Voodoo - 6:07
08. Chemical Plague - 3:43
09. Growth And Decay - 3:00
10. Taiko's Prophet (Fractured Remix) - 4:05
11. Turning Point (Xorcist Remix) - 8:37
12. Fallen Angel (Witchcore Mix by V Combust) - 3:59
13. Extinct (Mara's Torment Remix) - 7:44
14. Fallen Angel (Guidestone Remix) - 4:59
Line-Up
Wade Anderson
Cover Picture
Rating
Music: 7
Sound: 8
Extras: -
Total: 7.5 / 10
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