Global Communication
Pentamerous Metamorphosis
[Dedicated]
Rating: 8.2
In the techno world, somewhere between the rock-n-roll posturing of
the self- described electronica jet set and the ridiculously categorized
genres in club music, there is music that defies the party- tested
rhythms and structures in favour of exploring the sonic possibilities
that modern technology allows. The people behind Pentamerous
Metamorphisis belong in the latter category, and those tired of
hearing the same obvious patterns in jungle, ambient, house and
breakbeat would be wise to give this a chance.
The record is officially described as "retranslated from Blood Music
by Chapterhouse," who, back in the day (can the early nineties be that
long ago) gained some renown for their ambient guitar work. Not being
familiar with the original work, and not being quite sure what
"retranslated" really means in this context, it's hard to provide your
standard "this is a remix" assesment of the recording. Divided into
five "phases" ("Alpha," "Beta," "Gamma," "Delta" and "Epsilon"), the
album stands on its own in a way that most remix/ rework projects do not.
The record's opener "Alpha Phase" sets the tone of the album, taking a
digitized drone and building towards some lovely sampled vibes and
mechanically funky beats. It's an approach that, despite its inherent
spaciness, grabs your attention and draws you into the murky, oceanic
world it conjures. The rest of the tracks are mostly ambient affairs,
but are assembled with attention to both detail and restraint, using a
variety of sounds, instruments and effects with ear- pleasing results.
It's the type of thing that's going to have to struggle to find a wide
audience, which is too bad. It's this kind of music that would do wonders
for all those ravers strung out on crystal in the chill- out rooms. Children
of the '90s take note-- you don't have to feel trapped in the same song
and dance.
-Samir Khan