Metal Storm

Rating:  7.2

Mechanical Organic - Disrepair Part One - Permafrost Dreams

2007

01. The C-Word

02. Fingerprints Of Conspiracy

03. A Glacial Smile

04. Mechanical Dreams

05. The Hypothetical Terrorist

06. From Behind Shattered Glass

07. Citadels Of Selfdom

08. Singular Facet

09. The Necessary Illusion

10. Very Little Difference

11. I Was Blind But Now I See

12. Describe The Sky For Me

13. Problem-Reaction-Solution

14. Thesis-Antithesis-Synthesis

15. Farewell The Lonely Skeptic

Style: Industrial/Ambient

Country: Australia

Label: Self-Released

Length: 57:38

Recorded: 2007

Line-up:  Eddie Katz - Vocals, bass, programming, keyboards

I was warned in the written material that came with this CD that this album would be something different and after the first time I listened to it, I understand why it was described like it is. Mechanical Organic is the name of the one man band belonging to Eddie Katz and this album titled "Disrepair Part One - Permafrost Dreams" is the second musical release that this man has output under this band name moniker. The music that is contained in this CD is best classified as Industrial/Electronic although it has ambient elements too. But what else can be said about this rather out of the ordinary album? Read on!

While a lot of pure Industrial music is kind of "technoed" this release isn't like that at all. Some Industrial music even sounds like a darker maybe heavier version of what would otherwise be a techno song, but there is no steady "doof doof doof" apparent in any song on this album. What you do hear though are more "real" sounding drum beats. They are programmed and sound that way, but the beats you hear are more conventional. This album does have a "heavier" kind of feel about it at times. I guess this is why this kind of music would be related to metal in a way. Eddie plays distorted kind of bass lines throughout and this gives it it's darker feel. There are noticeable keyboard melodies on most songs too. These provide ambience on songs like "Very Little Difference" and become the primary instrument for the main tune on "Singular Facet". Vocal-wise, Eddie has done a good job with matching his singing with the tones of the music. Through vocal effects he even sounds as Industrial as the music he's singing over. So he has done well to make his vocal work as fitting as it is. Eddie even describes Disrepair Part One as a kind of Progressive release. This is more to do with his statement that his music is more "unique" and "something that hasn't been done before". In this sense you'd have to agree with him. You can tell through the number of conspirative audio samples in Disrepair Part One that the album has a rather political side to it. Even though the quite numerous number of samples can sometimes give one a weird uneasy feeling at times.

Bringing all the features that I've described on this album together it forms a mostly enjoyable release. Keeping in mind though that this album isn't for everyone as it stems out into lands a bit beyond metal. Worth a listen for those that like industrial and non-metal music.

Website:  http://www.mechanicalorganic.com/

Performance:  7

Songwriting:  7

Originality:  9

Production:  8

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