CD Feature/ Angel of Decay: Covered in Scars

What do you need to make an album full of haunting, morbid, strongly expressive, vivid, threedimensional and slightly deranged sound scapes work? In this case, two vintage analog synths, an effects processor, a cassette multi-track and a five dollar microphone were quite enough.

This low-key approach seems to be aimed at receiving the infamous “cult” status and the project’s title hints at your regular collection of Inustrial Noise. Both of which would be misplaced when applied to “Covered in Scars” and its creator, Jonathan Canady. Instead, the album remarkably resembles the magnificent Drone- and Abstract Sound-Parts that opened up most Klaus Schulze and Tangerine Dream pieces in the 70s – before the rhythms and melodies came in. The latter are ostensibly absent here, even though the spooky cello-stabs of “Face Print” make for a scaring tonal excursion. Instead, the listener is treated to a multitude of impressions and ambiances: Taking a dive into an acid bubble bath, wading through a solomnly quiet and desolate cripple creek fata morgana, watching yellow clouds pass by on a black sky and entering the engine room inside a living steam boat in space. The fact that this music was basically created live gives it a much more organic feel than most computer-generated compositions and the depth and wideness of the synths’ is absolutely breathtaking: Some of the sounds virtually seem to disappear into bottomless pits, while others entirely envelope you. With most tracks based around deep, subconscious hummings with multiple layers of spacious tones shifting in and out of focus, it’s a miracle that things don’t get tiresome.

So, in the end, it’s not the equipment, that matters, but talent. It’s a good thing, then, that this is not something Jonathan Canady has decided to use sparsely.

Homepage: Angel of Decay
Homepage: Desolation House Records