| Artist |
| Neon Cage Experiment |
| Title |
| Materials And Methods |
| Format/Cat |
| CD |
| Label |
| Vendetta |
| Style |
| Dark Experimental Industrial Electro |
| Date of review |
| 17th February 2008 |
| Reviewer |
| Carl Jenkinson |
| Rating |
| 6/10 |
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If you think a lot of electronic music today is a bit too soft or commercial then here's one to get your teeth into. The French quartet of Laurant, Yoann, Nicolas & Bruno have put together a challenging, dark & often experimental release where some of the darkest melodics imaginable are embellished by abstract & mutated effects. The opening 'Shadow Of Words' is a good case in point as a dark & brooding ambient backdrop is gradually overtaken by more abstract glitch & noise effects while a mutated accordian (which at least keeps their Gallic influences!) paints an impressionistic picture of the abyss during 'Hell's Darker Chamber'. The participation of Haujobb (as a remixer on the closing 'Puppy') will give you some idea of what to expect here, particularly on the more accessable tracks such as 'Into The Light' & 'Caretaker' while the atmospheric, almost ambient backdrop that both contrasts & compliments the laidback rhythms of 'Masquerade' & the manner in which 'Forgiven Lies' mixes an anything-could-happen approach into an otherwise fairly accessable, but still pretty imaginative, track is the most tangible manifestation of the Haujobb spirit although the odd (but intriguing, it must be said) mix of rhythmic & abstract effects that form the basis of 'Minds' sees them going further into more experimental realms while avoiding the bombastic simplicity of powernoise. Labelmate & compatriot Brain Leisure lends a helping hand on 'Life Is A Terrible Disease' while the the standout track that is 'Breathing Cities' is easily the darkest offering as a muscular rhythm forms the basis of an utterly forbidding track that conjures mental pictures of dark, deserted streets where the shadows are deepened by the overbearing buildings from which no light escapes. That they band are able to create such pictures in the mind is testament to their skill & while this is, like many Vendetta releases, is sure to find a warm reception from those whose tastes run to more eclectic realms.
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