Antropophobia - Vacuum


Year of Release: 1999
Label: self-relesaed
Catalog Number: n/a
Format: CD
Total Time: 55:14:00

Well, I may not be the best person to be reviewing this, as this makes me realize how much more I enjoy less avant-garde styles. But this is what I hear - if you were to mix a little bit of the attitude present in today's thrash and punk with King Crimson-like experimentalism, this is what you'd get (much greater emphasis on the latter than the former). The reviews there were included in the promo packet refer to Antropophobia as a RIO band. Vocalist Jordi (no surname given) sings in English, though only every other word or two is understood - this has more to do with style than with the band's origins.

Those origins are Spain, whose only other output I'm personally familiar with is Galadriel. These bands couldn't be further apart than, say, ? Sol and Pluto. Antropophobia are so angular you'd have to draw a triangle or square to give a visual reference. Atropophobia make a very interesting instrumental band who happen to include not-so-terrific vocals - the drum tattoo on "Window" is so reminiscent of the Beatles' "Come Together," however, that they're taking the whole piece in an entirely different direction is unexpected.

Jordi is a very dreary singer, lots of drawn out mumbled sounds, and in a track like "Window" the dark bass lines only make this track even drearier. Don't play if you're the slightest bit depressed. There's a lot going on in the track - percussive bits (Llorenc Arbones), guitar bits (David Roig and Alberto (no surname, midi-guitar)), bass bits (Alfredo Vera) - so this isn't entirely boring? but it is far from being uplifting. But, I will say that I don't find the vocals so far from my taste that I can't listen to this album for it's other merits.

"HTI" features some nice plucked guitar in a very Spanish style - not surprisingly. Also some interesting percussion. "Mines" concludes with a techno feel.

In some ways, too, I'm brought to mind of Echolyn and one of their offshoots, Finneus Gauge, but also Anekdoten. And, oddly, there are few moments where Jordi sounds a bit like a flatter Steve Hogarth; he has the same pitch and tone.


Tracklisting:
Misanthrope (4:26) / Salvation Is To Build (4:34) / If I Could Reign (3:26) / Window (5:05) / HTI (6:36) / Mines (2:58) / Out Of This World (3:25) / Ignorance (6:00) / Diabolus In Voce (1:33) / Window (5:40) / Out Of This World (3:37) / Mines (2:22) / HTI (6:39) / Fear, Mathematics Confusion (1:33)

Musicians:
Alfredo Vera - bass
Llorenç Arbonès - drums
Jordi - vocals
Alberto - midi guitars

Discography:
Vaccum (1999)

Genre: Progressive Rock

Origin ES

Added: June 1st 2000
Reviewer: Stephanie Sollow
Score:
Artist website:
Hits: 2088
Language: english

  

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