a r t i s t : The Dead Science
t i t l e : Villainaire
d a t e : 2008
l a b e l : Constelation
c a t : CST054
s o u r c e : CDDA
g e n r e : Avantgarde / Postpunk / Pop
r l s. d a t e : Jul/2008
t r a c k s : 11
b i t r a t e : VBRkbps
s i z e : 51,10 MB
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Seattle-based The Dead Science has created a majestic, ornate
and soaring collection of postpunk avantpop on this, their
fourth full-length album, and their first for Constellation.
Villainaire is a brilliant song cycle driven by layers of Sam
MickensÆ vibrato-laden voice, dark lyricism and sterling
guitar work. Bassist (acoustic and electric) Jherek Bischoff
and drummer Nick Tamburro anchor the tunes with endlessly
inventive polyrhythmic suppleness. Together the trio unleashes
a truly unique sound, intensely literate in both word and
sound, with a controlled and commanding fury.
The songs on Villainaire range from epic orchestral pop to
sinister jazz-rock to weary, soul-bleached balladry. Sam
Mickens writes about ômoral pragmatism and experimental moral
nihilism, black-out drunkenness and its psychic and emotional
repercussions, and the continuum of baroque fantasy and stark
realityö û all delivered with inimitable, seductive, and at
times disturbing operatics. Fans of Shudder To Think, Scott
Walker, Deerhoof, Xiu Xiu, Blonde Redhead and/or US Maple
should find deep and abiding pleasure in Villainaire.
Album opener ôThrone Of Blood (The Jump Off)ö indeed jumps out
of the gate, with pumping bass and drum work, interwoven
vocals and fantastic staccato syncopation û with a lovely
deconstructed bridge featuring a brief modernist string
arrangement. The song (also featured on the A-Side of a 7ö
single originally issued by Constellation as a tour-only item
in spring 2008 and now available through normal distribution
channels) encapsulates many of the elements and influences
that shape the rest of the albumÆs compositions. ôThe Dancing
Destroyerö explodes with a pummeling time signature and
furious drum work, driving towards some awesome horn stabs and
briefly yielding to a cascading interlude of waterfall guitar
chords before reprising the madness. ôMake Mine Marvelö is a
relentless little pop masterpiece highlighted by a swirling
string arrangement. ôMonster Island Czarsö opens with zithery
guitar downstrokes set against a ferocious bowed contrabass,
decomposing into a sort of free-jazz-meets-house bridge,
followed by some beautifully fried lead guitar in damaged
call-and-response with brass and strings û all in the first
two minutes; a twisted, harmonised vocal clearing ensues,
before the lead guitar reappears and blazes through a final
solo to bring the band slamming back to the finish line. The
band provides some respite with the short, tremulous ballad
ôLamentableö, and closes Side One with the insistent march of
ôDeath Duel Productionsö. WeÆll spare you track-by-track
descriptions of Side Two, except to say that the band
stretches out a little more, with a couple of dark slowdances
lending the albumÆs second half a more introspective but no
less intense vibe.
Villainaire was superbly recorded and mixed by band member
Jherek, and features contributions from a number of guest
players, including Shudder To ThinkÆs Craig Wedren and
CelebrationÆs Katrina Ford on additional vocals. The album is
available on CD and deluxe 180gLP, in custom-printed jackets
of white and gold ink on heavy black artstock paper; the LP
version is screen-printed by hand. The album is of course, at
this stage in world history, also widely available as a
digital download (even for actual cash money that flows back
to that artist, if one is inclined to support such quaint
notions).
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01-Throne of Blood (the Jump Off) [03:40]
02-The Dancing Destroyer [02:50]
03-Make Mine Marvel [03:36]
04-Monster Island Czars [03:41]
05-Lamentable [02:40]
06-Death Duel Productions [03:15]
07-Wife You [04:38]
08-Holliston [03:46]
09-Black Lane [03:31]
10-Sword Cane [04:57]
11-Clemency [03:32]
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40:06 min