Gothtober - Mater Suspiria Vision : "Cinemagoria"

 

This German artist pioneered the "witch House " subgenre of electronic music. If you don't know what Witch House is, well, I am sure that will be revealed by the end of this review, though this project does not really embrace some of the trap elements, but works more off a trip-hop feel that is built off of a creepy atmosphere. The album starts with a sonic swathe of sound that builds from ambient noise. It is more like an intro than an actual song unto itself. The second track, "Exorcisme Auto Erotique," is more minimalist. The synths gradually creep up, as sexy breathing begins the haunt the background as it slowly builds into a techno pulse, that is less witch house and more Lords of Acid.

'She Came in Static"  rides in on the more lo-fi synths and 808 drums that you expect from the genre. The mood is more ethereeal and haunting than the darker, more sinister pulse this project normally delivers. It rides the drone before an atmospheric swell. There is a more synthwave feel to "Hollywood Pandemonium." The whisper of a wicked witch lurks over the synth melody. It all works together to make this the most compelling beat so far. 

"L'Autre Hier" is consumed by its ambient pulse before the title track takes over. The more surreal witchhouse-sounding synths are mixed far in the background, as a French woman speaks over the song. The vocals are buried somewhere back there. This is the most experimental thing I have heard from this project, less beat-driven and more sounds washing over you. Things do get a little darker for "Crucifixion Neon' as the vocals continue to crawl under the haze, though the creepy tension you think of witch house having can be heard drifting in from the shadows.  

"Erotic Serum Injected in Stereo" works off the dream logic this album was said to be created with, as it sounds like something from a dream or a Swans outtake. It evolves into a more lo-fi dark wave-like song with a David Lynch noir mood to it. Earlier, I said by the end of the review you would have a better understanding of witch house, I think I underestimated how my experimentation was happening here. Though this song comes closer to capturing that mood when comparing it to artists like Salem. They are obviously conscious enough to know what witch house is and that they are supposed to be making it as that is what also happens in a more textbook manner on the last song. I will give this one a 9, as it is one of the project's more experimental releases, deviating from what I went in expecting. But it would seem they came up with some good drug music anyway. 

pst486