home   reviews  |  interviews  features  lost & found  |  dvd reviews  |  links   about sparrow  contact us

record reviews dysrhythmia/rothko  

DARK CASTLE

Spirited Migration
(At a Loss)

MASSEMORD / THE FRONT / VALDUR
3-Way Split
(BlackMetal.com)

FUNEBRARUM
The Sleep of Morbid Dreams
(Cyclone Empire)

EASPA MEASA / SILENCE
Split
(Acclaim / Sadness of Noise)

BURMESE
Monkeys Tear Man to Shreds, Man Never Forgives Ape, Man Destroys Environment
(Enterruption)

CONSTANTS
The Foundation, The Machine, The Ascension
(The Mylene Sheath)

AMBASSADOR GUN
When in Hell
(Pangea)
 
DUSTED ANGEL
7"
(Corrupt Rcordings)
 
MORE REVIEWS

DYSRHYTHMIA/ROTHKO
Fractures
(Acerbic Noise Development)

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


Bookmark and Share  

HTML Comment Box is loading comments...

Contact us: 
editor@deafsparrow.com