Much of the writing for this podcast has been done with Attrition’s music as a backdrop. When Martin Bowes announced on Twitter that the new album had been released digitally, I bought it impulsively.
The Unraveller of Angels is a showcases of all things Attrition, with an extra touch of intensity.
The first act of the new album can be compared to Dante’s Kitchen, but the Unraveller of Angels quickly becomes its own album afterward.
Martin and company begin, as usual, with an ambient introduction. Not quite so usual is the piano riff that could have come from a horror movie score.
“Karma Mechanic” comes in as a loud, assertive battle march to establish the album. It could be compared to the title track of Dante’s Kitchen in placement and purpose. Attrition fans will want to pay extra attention. Distorted instruments have been layered into the music to add support in new ways.
“Narcissist” comes next as the album’s single, which it absolutely deserves to be. “Histrionic!” is my personal favorite track. The arrangement conjures ghosts of the industrial age and art house horror films within the frame of modern music.
The album gradually shifts into slower, more thoughtful music. The bond between classical and industrial is made tighter than ever. Stringed instruments are played like the pads and sweeps of electronic music. The dirty electronic bass glides through notes and intensity, as if being bowed. Distorted noises add layers of despair or corrosion to new songs, but never overpower the rest of the music. Through loud and quiet times, basslines and strings keep the music vigorous.
“Hollow Latitudes” and “The Internal Narrator” finish the album. Combined, they span nearly twenty minutes of somber soundscapes. The angels have been unraveled in these tracks. All that’s left is to hear the last wisps of their existence catch the last drafts of air and try to stay afloat.
This may be the most jarring realization for unaware listeners: The moody string and piano that begins “Hollow Latitudes” is just as much Attrition as the aggressive tracks. They are the final vow in the marriage of industrial and classical.
The Unraveller of Angels is laid out very intelligently. Carnal classical-infused dance tracks at the beginning are reduced seamlessly to somber, industrial-infused ambient works. The album feels cohesive in a way that far surpasses Attrition’s other works. This structure allows Martin Bowes to showcase all aspects of his talent, while also delivering a strong experience to the listener. He and his collaborators have outdone themselves.
There is a 10 song Narcissist EP available for early purchasers of the album. Piano Improvisation for Narcissus wound up being my favorite. This version breaks the mold for these remixes (indeed, most remixes) and complements what makes the main album so beautiful.
You can and should preview The Unraveller of Angels at Bandcamp. It’s there to hear in its entirety. Your time is very limited if you want the remixes along with the album, so treat yourself as soon as possible.
