END OF LEVEL BOSS
Inside the Difference Engine
(Exile On Mainstream)

ISOLE
Bliss of Solitude
(Napalm)

ACID MOTHERS TEMPLE
& THE MELTING PARAISO U.F.O
Nam Myo Ho Ren Ge Kyo
(Ace Fu)

O'DEATH
Head Home
(Ernest Jenning)

TRAP THEM
Seance Prime
(Deathwish)

DYSRHYTHMIA/ROTHKO
Fractures 

(Acerbic Noise Development)

THE FIRE THE FLOOD
Truth Seekers

(No Sleep)

MORE REVIEWS

We are talking about a real split release here. Not a 50/50, but a one song belongs to the first and two to the latter kind of deal. Not one of those mishy-mashy collaborations between two emerging ‘experimental’ bands that we broke back scribes feel sort of forced to attach a decent rating to because that shit is hip. Of course, things even out by length, as Dysrhythmia drops by with the appropriately titled “Earthquake” which goes over the fourteen minute mark and presents the New York trio’s flawless brand of progressive rock. Now, see how I said ‘progressive rock’ because basically that’s what you have to call instrumental music these days, and also because well; you kind of have to be into progressions to make an amusing fourteen minute song. Of course, unless you are doom, you can’t come up with one rhythm and one tempo and then bash the fuck out of it until we have all learned to accept that yes that was cool alright. So in fourteen minutes Dhysrhythmia basically gives a lesson about memory; because how the hell do these boys remember what comes next? There is a moment of exhilaration about the sixth minute; which I’d say represents the pinnacle of the shaking, when the Richter scale is peeking and citizens all over are in sheer panic. “Earthquake” then finds solace; the moment of disconcert I guess, when the multitudes are assessing the damage and are too disoriented to realize that, like with any other earthquake, aftershocks will follow. My introduction to Dyshrhythmia was through 2003’s full length Pretest, and this is certainly a giant step forward. The band is not merely complicating itself. “Earthquake” makes sense and in its own twisted way it’s not oblique like everything contained in the rather boring Pretest.

Rothko on the other hand, come from the other side of the pond; London, England to be more precise and though virtually unknown in the States have been in existence since 1997. Rothko was formed by bassist/guitarist Mark Beazley and have put out material through indie label Too Pure (2001’s A Continual Search For Origins) and have also done some soundtrack work for documentaries and a couple of TV pilots. Rothko’s side of the music is in many ways, the opposite of Dysrhythmia’s; their brand of instrumental work floats inwards and is much more ambiental and not very focused on rocking out at all. “Torch” for instance, has quasi tribal drums and plenty of beeps. There is plenty of static going on and the band’s main purpose seems to be to create or recreate ambience.  Still, their music retains some of the least commercial characteristics of the most adventurous 70’s prog bands. Both of their songs are quite intriguing and not exactly in the exaggerated long end of the spectrum, which makes them all the more palatable and a perfect balance to the delightful of excess of Dysrhythmia.

Dysrhythmia Official Site

Dysrhythmia MySpace

Rothko Official Site

Rothko MySpace