Forest Creature - Frustrated Analogue

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5...according to our Business Lady on Thu 20 Aug, 2009.

Blackest rainbow are always knocking out quality releases so it's with open arms that i welcome the newest offering of 'Frustrated Analogue' by Forest Creature. Consisting of Sheffield locals Ben Moon and Richard Sides Forest Creature's are an ever evolving entity, starting life as Wolf Eyes style noise oppressors they've set aside the harshness in favour of uplifting, repetitious prog noise and John Capenter-esque electronic ambience. The '7 edits' featured on 'Frustrated Analogue' sound more like out takes from an unheard Autechre album from the golden age of Warp records remixed by Black Dice. Yet the most obvious comparison would be Fuck Buttons. Tracks three and four illustrate this point best, you'd be convinced that Edit three was written by Fuck Buttons if you didn't know any better! Edit 4 pulsates like a crazy madman until the track is abruptly severed and sound like a mix of the analogue electro tracks from the first Fucking Champs album remixed by some late eighties IDM techno nut job. This appeals to me for the same way reasons as the recent Growing releases that have seen the group base all their compositions on repetitious pulses and loops. This gives what would normally be a big ole ambient mush some kind of foot shuffling, head nodding qualities, not quite dance floor material but certainly something you can get away with playing outside of the bedroom. Apparently they've taken to introducing real drums to their live performances which is suggested on the ambient trance workout that is edit 5. Booming toms and a live bass drum give this track a distinctive style that reminds me of Tortoise working a mangled Steve-Reich jam. Easily the best thing i've heard this week. Awesom-o.

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Very pleased to announce the first 'proper' release from this local duo of Ben Moon and Richard Sides, and a very new sound for Blackest Rainbow. Forest Creature has been through many different sounds, starting as a fairly harsh noise experience opening for bands like Wolf Eyes and Jazkamer back when we did shows. They later on incorporated live drums and screwed up vocals, and a purely animal live experience. The duo's sound has progressed more and more over the last year, with different sounds collating to make Forest Creature reach a point where they have their very own sound. Their previous sound would've fitted nicely into the Load Records roster, and then building to sound more like some kind of blend of Black Dice, early Animal Collective and Fuck Buttons. But now over the last few months I've experienced some of their best live performances yet (performed in near total darkness with flickering TV screens and bulbs) they pummel their audience with thumping beats, raging psychedelic synth, broken glitches and clicks, they seemed to have found a definite place that seems to be right for them. Strangely enough some of this material even reminds me of the supreme days of Sheffield's techno and IDM music boom back in the late 80s and early 90s with legends like Autechre, Black Dog, and the hay day of Warp Records best releases. If you're into Black Dice, early Warp Records, Animal Collective and aren't afraid of a little beat here and there then I suggest you check out Forest Creature! Glass mastered pro pressed CD (not CDR) in full colour pro printed CD wallet.

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