Frantic Bleep - The Sense Apparatus
	Released: 2005 Label: The End Records Cat. No.: TE 050 Total Time:
	Reviewed by: Jan-Mikael Erakare, July 2005 Evaluation: What is it? This recording has been described as progressive metal, as "emo," as avante-garde metal, and most interestingly as ambient noise. I contend that Frantic Bleep is all and none of the above. The artwork and packaging, as is the wont of most bands, are obtuse, revealing little about the band, the overall concept or the intent of the recording, resorting to leaving any conclusions to be drawn by the listener. That notwithstanding, the fold-out cover is a refreshing change from the typical metal-fare … no dismembered corpses, gore-streaked ebullient effigies or pouting "metal’ stances by the band members. Analysis: What it is: The music is complex but not in an overwhelmingly technical manner. Guitar lines weave in and out of the controlled soundscapes, leaving plenty of room for the vocals (mostly clean, well sung, and often harmonized in atypical fashion for metal) to wax eloquent about, well, about, something … there's a fine line between stream of consciousness and torrent of vapidity … Frantic Bleep straddle that divide and lean torpidly over into loquaciousness from time to time… Paul Mozart Bjorke sings with conviction if not power, delivering conventional vocals as well as effected, almost ethereal stylings … occasional lapses into rasps and shouts do nothing to rend the mood established. Trying to provide comparisons for the music is difficult because Frantic Bleep have managed to create a sound that incorporates their influences seamlessly (but not invisibly). Vocally I hear elements of King's X, John Lydon (PIL-era … particularly on "Sins of Omission"), and, as strange as it may seem, Depeche Mode and The Cure. Imagine "Black Celebration" as performed by the < a href="http://www.hevydevy.com" class="link">Devin Townsend Band (circa-Ocean Machine)... Summary: This is intriguing music … a dark mood is established from the outset, and nothing transpires to dispel the gloom throughout … heavy enough to be called metal, complex enough to earn a progressive badge, melodic enough to qualify as music, Frantic Bleep have created a juggernaut that lumbers across a broad musical plateau, leaving a deep furrow… Rating: 9-/10 [4.25/5] (the minus is for the "Norwenglish’ attempt at lyrical obfuscation) More about The Sense Apparatus: Track Listing: A Survey / The Expulsion / Sins Of Omission / But A Memory / Mausolos / Curtainraiser / Mandaughter / Neboluos Termini / Cone Musicians: Patrick Scantlebury - guitars,synth Eywin Sundstrom - guitars Sten Svendheim - drums Paul Mozart Bjorke -vocals, bass Guests: Daniel Solheim – lead vocals (3) Agnete M. Kirkevaag, Kjetil Fosseid, Odd E. Ebbesen, Per Øyvind Bjerknes - Backing Vocals Contact: Website: www.franticbleep.com Note: will open new browser window Discography Fluctadmission (promo ep) (2002) The Sense Apparatus (2005)
	[Review Index]  [Home]  [Top] © Copyright 2005 ProgressiveWorld.net/Jan-Mikael Erakare