IC 434 Bacteriate
IC 434 got my attention some time ago, mostly due to the piece „Our Great Nation”("Banished"), which was present on my personal faves list for quite long.
Geert de Wilde has been making music since 1991 he was a member of such formations as Genocide, Haradwaith or Vomito Negro, he was also involved in remixing. Under IC 434 name he released a.o: „Weathering Skies„,"Drowning Beyond„ or „The Banished”,
March 2008 witnessed the arrival of his new album entitled „Bacteriate". The first thing that came to my mind after I'd listened to it was: „discotheques will definitely not lack the good music to fill their dance-floors in the upcoming season ”.
The opening track „Mankind Denied”, is a very good instrumental piece, full of anxiety and yet featuring a fair dose of lively electronics.
The title one „Bacteriate” is a somewhat continuation of the previous track, yet given in a far more energetic version which includes lots of dynamic elements and a vocal line being traditionally on the verge of recitation rather than singing. Still, the consistent melody and good speed make the piece catchy and stimulating.
The song that won my ears at its very opening was „Dysthymia”, mainly thanks to a skilled combination of scanning beat and lively led leitmotif arranged in a highly rhythmical manner, making good use of a typically „dancefloor” style. The vocal added it a sharp and pugnacious ambiance. The second „draw” that evoked the same reaction was definitely „SSRI”, which entangles melody, beat, samples and vocal in a fluent, coalescing manner way, producing the material that enfolds in a moderate and yet very pleasant, dancy pace.
What the album also includes is a range of moderately steady and dynamic pieces perfect for a strenuous dancefloor antics, such as „The Reaping”, harsh and hard-hitting „Insomniac”, hypnotizing „Unchained” or a disquieting, trembling „ La Corrida De Toros”.
„Back To Back„ stands for a catchy, vivid closing of the album, leaving the impression of sonic consistency, music consequence and once taken, clear direction into which the music is heading. It is also my third fave on „Bacteriate”.
Generally speaking, the discussed album consists of pro-disco pieces prevailing: a good shot of dynamics, the balanced speed being neither particularly murderous, nor strolling, well-chosen melodic compositions and a bit hoarse vocal that suits the sound well – all that is interesting enough to motivate a deeper insight into IC 434 artistic output.
