Wednesday, July 12, 2006

Aro :Pund - To Find Divine, The Human Soul Defiled

Artist: Aro :Pund
Release: To Find Divine, The Human Soul Defiled
Label:
Umbrella Noize Collective
Year: 2006
Format: MP3
Tracks: 7

My first experience with this project and it was a dandy one. I have heard of Android In Motion, which is his main project, and to this day it's one of my favorite releases on the Roil Noise label. But not taking anything away from his side-project, Aro :Pund, there are some similar identities with this MP3 release. Lots of layering and samples are used for each track and he does them so well.


The opening track, Don’t Tell mother Our secret, Baby, is a great soft melodic tone with a few other soft noises that fade in and out of the track. A great way to open any release. I sat there with my eyes closed and the first thing I thought of for some reason was "Blade Runner". Good stuff.

Track two, This is How You Like It, This is What You Want, Now Please refrain from Screaming, as a tougher feel to it for sure as he now introduces heavy drums and scratchy fucked up beats which appear at the end. Probably a track that he could have put on his AIM project and I wouldn't have noticed. A strong track and I know I know that moaning sample from somewhere...fuck!

The longest track, She Said to My Humbled Gray Matter, The Life Has Left Your Lips, is uber ambient and shows that heavy noise with beats is not this guys only gift. This track first reminded me of the movements of ocean currents slowed down to about 1/4 with someone underneath trying to get up for air. A great track at the mid-point to calm your nerves.

When I Spent Too Much Time at the Playground, is a pretty basic track with well done layering samples and scratchy loops. The track isn't bad, just something I'm use to hearing maybe. I found myself just wanting to move to the next track. Again, not a bad track overall, just doesn't add much to this release.

A Decimated Cranial Cavity, And What it Convinces Us To Consume, starts of slow and quiet as more and more material is placed to your ears. Great pushes and movements of sounds and something that I look for in the more ambient side of tracks. Layering is important if you want to keep someone’s attention for 10 minutes with soft, smooth sounds and this track does it well.

The Total Collapse of The Mental State That One Might Receive, is another track similar to the last one. But this one has a more horror movie feel to it. This one stuck in me more than any other of the tracks did simply because I love horror movie soundtracks and this one could have fit in perfectly. There's a kind of low buzzing in the track that pulls your pineal gland forward into focus a bit too...love it when noise fucks your head without drugs. After a bit some samples come in that switch channels and I they sound like reversed vocal samples too. Sounds creepy as hell. Probably my favorite track on this release.


The last track, Inevitable Downward Spiral to the Total Destruction of the Human Soul, is a return to some heavy hitt'n noise. Great rolling sounds cascade with high tonal fuckery. Screams and yells can be heard, unless this track is really fucking me up, but I know they are there. A strong track for sure and ends this release perfectly.


For my first intro to Aro :Pund, not sure why the odd name, I'd say it was very successful. I love Android In Motion and to see his side project sound just as great is something to look forward to. It helps that it was for free too, thanks to UNC.