Artist : Bugskull
Title : Communication
Genre : Electronic
Year : 2009
Date : 11/2009
Bitrate : VBR kbps
Tracks : 10
Label : Digitalis
Source : Vinyl
Encoder : Lame 3.97
Length : 39:21 min
Size : 53,7 MB
Tracklist:
----------
01.floppy drive 02:39
02.high steppin' II 03:31
03.hazy window 03:47
04.remarkably human 03:48
05.exposed wires 05:54
06.squeeky bagpipe 02:51
07.communication 06:00
08.pondlife 03:45
09.subterranean life 04:24
10.what's that light? 02:42
-------
39:21 min
Flashback to 1997 and in the world of
underground droning weirdness, Bugskull
were heavyweight champions. The
revolving cast of characters always
centered around Sean Byrne. He concocted
buckets full of syrupy delights that
encompassed everything from electronica,
post-rock, dub, noise and endless pop
hooks. Byrne was joined by multi-
instrumentalist Brendan Bell and
percussionist James Yu throughout the
latter half of the '90s, taking Bugskull
from bedroom wonder to full-blown magic
carpet band. Bugskull released records
and singles on some of the great
experimental labels of the day such as
Road Cone, Scratch, and Shrimper. I can
safely say that as I was discovering
experimental music during my mid & late
teens, Bugskull were one of my all-time
favorite bands.
The last album Byrne released was in
2002, "The Big White Cloud," which
followed-up the acclaimed "Distracted
Snowflake" duology. During the late
'90s, Byrne recorded a third album that
extended the themes of the "Snowflake"
records. Due to label issues and
disputes, this third album never came
out until now, almost ten years later.
"Communication" is the bookend to the
hypnotic reverie created by "Distracted
Snowflake" volumes 1 & 2. With layers of
organ and synth floating like cotton
candy on top of dub and hip-hop infused
beats, Byrne is in top form.
"Communication" isn't so much a lost
album as it is confirmation of a legacy
and declaration of intent. Bugskull is
back. From the tribal beach vibes of
"High Steppin' II" right down to the
drenched bones of the droning, black
river sonics of "Subterranean Life,"
this album brings everything that made
Bugskull so great and concentrates it on
two sides of vinyl. Upbeat, fast-moving
synth lines bob and move in minimal
electronic waves while violins moan on
"Squeaky Bagpipe." The title track is an
exercise in restraint as Byrne uses
turntables and molasses-paced guitars to
the listener into a false sense of
serenity, only to be drowned in opiates
and put to bed by "Pondlife." Whether
he's created simple, deceptive trips
with sparse, but effective rhythmic cues
or is just wallowing in the aural beauty
of sine tones and synth drones, Byrne
doesn't ever let up.
For those who have been as big of fans I
have through the years, you probably
never thought another Bugskull album
would show up on the horizon. I know I
didn't. But after seven years of waiting
for something fresh, it's all worth it
in the end to start the journey from
scratch.
Vinyl only and limited to 300 copies
http://www.digitalisindustries.com