| CD REVIEW Kiss The Anus Of A Black Cat |
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Band : Kiss The Anus Of A Black Cat Well, you wanted to read what this was about, just because of the bandname, didn't you? Either that, or you're already familiar with the wacky musical expressions of Gent based musical instrument maker and "New Dark Folk" musician Stef Heeren (who used to be in a Punk band but chose to follow his own course a couple of years back)!? He'd been recording music for years with his instruments and computer, but it wasn't until the (K-raa-K) label (which is actually better known for its wacky electronic acts) got in touch with him that he'd considered making actual songs. Basically, Heeren's music has a basis of structured Folk music, contorted and wrought by his musical approach which is strongly influenced by shamanistic and religious music (be it Buddist, Krishna, or native American) with its repetitive, mantra, dronelike character. So, he tried to create this trance inducing atmosphere through the use of typical un-Western instruments (harmonium, tanpura, bowls, bells) and repetitive singing (but also distorted and acoustic guitar), and thus have birth to the 2005 full-length If The Sky Falls, We Shall Catch Larks (a 4-track affair containing a 20-minute track with "Sighing, Seething, Soothing"). As could be expected, reactions to this debut were either rather negative (by those who just didn't understand what was goin' on), or ultimately positive (by those who are more enlightened! A follow-up came in 2007 with the full-length An Interlude To The Outermost, and the soon ensuing 7-inch Turn Hegel On His Head (nót an album track). The difference with the debut was that in the meantime KTAOABC (name supposedly taken from the rumour that in Mideaval times witches used to...you know...as a so-called symbol for bringing tribute to their "lord and master" Satan) had grown into somewhat of a band with the addition of guitarist De Maré and drummer David Stubbe (ex-The Plague Of Gentlemen), and the songs' (this time a total of 9) underlaying structures were more evident, making them more easily identifiable as Folk Rock...with a wacky touch nevertheless (because a good degree of repetition had to be expected), but there you have it! Of course the original recorded music was still deformed through inviting several other musicans and getting everything through his computer, and as far as the lyrics were concerned Heeren still looked at the world with a grim eye, his main worries being the aftermath of the 9/11 event, society in general, and the banality of the individual! That doomy atmosphere is continued on KTAOABC's third full-length outing, this time a 3-tracker containing the songs "Between Skylla And Charybdis" [15:32 in length, it is instrumental in the first 8 minutes which sound like a pre-concert stemming of the violin chords and an underlaying drone by cellos (or is it harmonium?) before drums and bass eventually bring an additional drone of their own. When the dramatic vocals kick in, the music changes to drums with overlaying of acoustic and electric guitar. Vocals grow to include first a second (male) and then a third singer (female, that one), and eventually decently played violins (?) are added to finish the track], "Dyptich" [9:15 long, it again knows a more "experimental" opening with strangely distorted guitar (kinda reminds me of Ambient drone masters Main) upon which then comes the playing of shamanisic drums (and bells) in increasing volume. Everything suddenly falls to silence at the 2:45 mark, but only 10 seconds later an Ambient soundscape is started and then the repetitive vocals kick in (it's really only the lyrics "And some of us are beating children") before Stef begins his short own vocal participation on top. By now the harmonium is there again at full strength to make the mood ever sóó doomy, especially with noises of noisy playing children (or are they crying?, I ain't sure) coming up in the background, along with a sparcely played piano. When the vocals drop off (around the 7:50 mark), the piano and electric guitar remain, with the guitar slightly and slowly fading out in the background until a lone piano closer off the track], and "Miserere" [only 6:12 in length, this track is the closest resembling to an actual song in structure, although you would have to expect that degree of repetition, of course: opens with a repetitive tune played on acoustic guitar and again that melancholic guitar. More singers kick in on top of a somewhat more energetic guitar, then drop off again and are replaced by a short bit of added piano while that guitar tune continues. Stef continues to voice his worries, getting again some vocal assistance in changing intensities, and some more acoustic string (guitar type) instruments being added to the whole, as well as...I think it's an electric guitar (but played with a lot of chorus pedal effect) for a repetitive instrumental ending which is drowned in that shamanistic mood. No food for stylistically strict-minded people, but then I've always liked some variation in my diet, musical or foodwize! The Nebulous Dreams is one of those albums which will grow on you with each listening session you give it. Oh, by the way, you can hear shards of all three tracks at conspiracyrecords.com (and read more poetic descriptions of the band's music), and a full-length version of "Dyptich" (alongside material off the preceeding albums and single) is available at myspace.com/kisstheanusofablackcat! But really, KTAOABC albums are meant to be listened to as a whole, so try to catch a listening session at you local record store. By the way, the album is also available in black and clear vinyl versions! You can be sure I'm gonna try to get one as soon as possible...I'm even gonna go for the band's previous outings as well! 94/100 Tony. |