Loud, punishing industrial noise from Romania that's centered mainly around loud (did I mention they're real loud?), piercing feedback and harsh noise processed through enormous amounts of echo -- this is seriously abrasive stuff, probably made in the most minimalist fashion imaginable. Lo-fi and menacing, this is far-reaching noise from the nightmare factory, sonic avalanches punctuated by disorienting peals of endless feedback and what sounds like hallways collapsing in some forgotten underground tomb. Their use of echo is startling and unusual, and gives them a sound that's much different (and far more psychotic, sonically speaking) than the average power electronics outing. Their visual aesthetic reminds me a little bit of Psychologie Abwefront, but the sound (that sandblasting, feedback-drenched sound!) is something else entirely. Seven tracks, all of them blinding in their echo-driven excess, and liner notes in what I would presume is Romanian. Harsh noise devotees, you need to hear this.
review from Dead Angel, issue 8
Too bad I can't speak romanian or else I'd looking forward to read the inner notes of this cd from Bucharest's own Narkoleptik. It should deal with some historical event happened during the cold war era but I can get nothing more. Beside the concept, "impulse dominant" is a quite generical but well done industrial release. It starts with harsh noises kept in the background as everything in this release, I mean Narkoleptik is more into harsh trance than power-noise-in-your-face style and also the feedbacks lay in the back. Another recording where you can sense there's a surplus of echo-reverb to mix the elements in your drink. While the constant large ambience reverb gives an heavy psychedelic feel there's no dark ambiental drone as you can expect and let me say that's a positive thing. Still naive but as I've said well done.
review by Andrea Ferraris, Chain DLK
Every country in the World it seems now has an underground movement. I'm willing to bet that even Luxembourg, population 121 + 5 goats and 2 cats, probably has one. Romania has one for sure. Admit it. That surprises you. Surprised me anyway. F.I.R are a record label dedicated to releasing the latest music from this fledgling scene. F.I.R actually released a limited to 100 copies CDR compilation titled "Compendiu de muzica electronica" to showcase the talents involved in creating IDM / Industrial / Ambient / Backbeat and Triphop music. One of the acts on this compilation was Narkoleptik. What now follows is a review of his third release. The first two "Punisher" and "Embodiment / Ready to receive" were not submitted for review. These things happen in the wonderful world of reviewing.
Frustration or admiration? I can't quite make my mind up. Visiting his website at www.freewebs.com/narkoleptik reveals nothing about the artist. Some bits in Romanian and English but no delving into the mindset of the artist could be discerned. An admirable excuse to remain clothed in secrecy or frustrating to the point of anger. You tick the box. This 7 track CDR (the label doesn't mention how limited it is) was, according to the press release, recorded mostly live without overdubs apart from two tracks (doesn't mention which ones) which were mildly modified by tape recorder. Musically "Impuls Dominant" is a power electronics / noise Industrial piece of work. Which says it all really. You only need to refer to any of my other reviews to know exactly what to expect here. The same words crop up time and time again. Not so much a case of limited vocabulary on my part but when dealing with this style of music the limitations to describe it becomes readily apparent. Pick from any of these: powerful, extreme, painful, cutting, swathes, disorientating, cold, cacophony, nauseous, grating, liberating (that's a new one), the list goes on. And on. There isn't anything on here that you, if you're into this genre of music, won't have heard at least a thousand times before. Certainly I found nothing to get overly excited about. Which was a pity because I kind of held high hopes for this. Don't know why. Maybe if the artist would have added something else into the recording, samples / beats / anything, instead of just trying to out noise every other such available recording then I might have been more impressed. As it was I was left feeling short changed and thinking of what might have been. Back to the drawing board for you I feel.
Which isn't to say that "Impuls Dominant" is a waste of time. The 41+ minutes flew by as is the wont of these recordings. The effects the artist wanted to create have been fully realised. The presentation of the packaging was very good considering it's a CDR. The music having an appeal that noise fanatics will readily get into. After all this is the audience that Narkoleptik is aiming for. And on "Impuls Dominant" his aim is true. So rejoice if power electronics / extreme noise moves you. You can now add "Impuls Dominant" onto your wants list. All I'll add is that maybe a little bit of variety wouldn't go amiss next time around.
Stop press - the population of Luxembourg has now increased to 121 + 5 goats and 7 cats. The felines have just had a litter. Ahhhh.
review by ANM, Auralpressure |
