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Compilation
– Butoh (CD 2000)
The CD
starts with the very powerful and rhythmic KOBE and ends with them, too.
Then follows a masterpiece of A MURDER OF ANGELS (also featured with two
tracks), who call their instrumental pieces “Damnbient”, which is a
good description. Music for the night, I would describe it. Next are MORS
SYPHILITICA, one of the best US bands these days. I love the fantastic
music of Eric and Lisa Hammer, who present an very dancable exclusive
track, my favourite one on “Butoh”. Like most bands, THE MACHINE IN
THE GARDEN give us two exclusive mixes of songs from their albums, dark
Gothic-Ambient music. THE UNQUIET VOID play very atmospheric
Soundtrack-like music with echoing rhythms, very industrialized in the
original sense of the word. It sounds like it could have been recorded in
a machine-hall full of steam and sweating workers. Then follow the great
SUMERLAND with a track, that has a bit of older Dead Can Dance songs, sung
by Brendan Perry. WENCH is haunting Dark Electro and could have been a
Soundtrack for John Carpenter Films like “Assault” or “Escape From
New York”, maybe not as close to the theme of this Compilation, as the
other tracks, but good anyway. THE MIRROR REVEALS present a very rhythmic
track with fragile female vocals, which makes me curious about their album
“Frames Of Teknicolor” on Middle Pillar. THREAD is an experimental
electronic band which reminds me a bit on the Soundtrack for the film
“Decoder”. I don´t know, if such music is really useful for Butoh
dance, but it is very convincing and it would be great to hear more from
this group. ZOAR is by far the band with the biggest Gothic/Wave feeling
combined with many disturbing sounds, really interesting. If you like
a very good collection of mostly rhythmic-ambient music, “Butoh” will
be your perfect choice. If you want to get more from most of the acts, you
should visit the Mailorder of Middle Pillar, a very promising label and
distribution. (A.P.) |
Butoh
is an “interpretative Japanes Dance of Darkness” and the US label
Middle Pillar presents us their interpretation of the Soundtrack for such
art. I know, that Die Form experimented with a Butoh dancer live and even
Sopor Aeternus And The Ensemble Of Shadows is partly influenced by this
art, but I get a closer impression of it with this great Compilation,
which features a lot of bands from the label, but also some guests. Most
acts present exclusive tracks or exclusive mixes of their songs and so it
is also a fine Sampler for fans of mostly ethereal Gothic/Dark-Wave music.