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INTRAVENOUS MAGAZINE: Your daily dose of darkness...
Thursday, 9 January 2014
Review: Controlled Collapse – 'Ruins After Babel'
9.1.14 Sean M. Palfrey
*CONTROLLED COLLAPSE
'Ruins After Babel' *
*MACHINERIES *
Poland's Controlled Collapse released a forceful album in the form of
2013's 'Babel'. An album which melded the band's decade of
experimentalism with a clear and focussed dance floor agenda that
blended techno, rhythmic industrial darkwave. It was a compelling
listen, but will the new remix EP 'Ruins After Babel' bring anything new
out of a varied and well executed album?
Kicking off with the old school ebm orientated techno of 'Ruins
(Mental)' the album takes a brave step opening with an infectious
instrumental rather than a full-blown dance mix, however it works
through the sheer power of its grooving synths and toe-tapping
beats
. Die Braut's take on 'Change The World' by comparison feels fresh and
and suitably epic blending big future-pop synths with slow industrial
beats. The Paralyzed by H.EXE mix of 'Numb' wanders into recent Gary
Numan territory albeit with a purer syth-based execution for a great
dance track.
'Fragment Of Time' featuring Aleksandra Burska on vocals was an
undoubted highlight of the original album, but the remix featured here
just doesn't do the original justice and by comparison sounds flat and
uninspired. Volt 9000's take on 'Dzień Sądu' on the other hand is a dark
and stripped back affair that loses none of the menace of the original
and brings out the band's more experimental flourishes nicely. 'Change
The World' contributed by remix contest winner Nick James is a pretty
straight-forward minimal and ambient mix that focusses heavily on the
rhythms and slowly breaks out the old school synth sounds before
throwing some dubstep embellishments. Absured Monkey Project continue
from the previous mix nicely with a more frantic pace and more overt
dubstep elements filling the track. Finally 'Phoenix' rounds things off
nicely with a nice blend of ebm and slow groaning bass for a subtle but
catchy finale.
Although 'Babel' was a strong album, Controlled Collapse and their
partners in crime have still managed to wring some new and interesting
takes on the original songs. The variety of the remixes means that even
on it's own this feels like a continuation of the main album rather than
a mere appendage. This should ensure some continued club play, but it's
one that casual listeners with certainly enjoy as well.
Posted in: Controlled Collapse
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