Celan: Halo

The concept behind Celan was imitated by classical composer, musician and conductor Ari Meyers of Einstürzende Neubauten and Redux Orchestra together with vocalist and guitarist Chris Spencer of Unsane in a bar in Berlin in 2008. Franz Xaver and Phil Roeder of flu.ID and guitarist Niko Wenner of Oxbow joined to complete the line-up with Halo marking the bands debut release. Born out of a post industrial landscape, the recurring theme throughout is one of a pumping wall of noise with brutal and aggressive vocals, occasionally interspersed with more mellow interludes.

Spencer proves himself to me a forceful vocalist, very much at the forefront of every song but without ever sounding strained or as if he is struggling to maintain the fury that is evident at all times, nowhere more so than on the pummelling 'All This and Everything'. Meyers contribution centres around providing elements of electro synth effects that build layers of sound that begin in the distance but develop to a fever pitch as they move through each song, evoking feelings of both isolation and desolation, notably on the likes of 'Sinking' and 'It's Low'. Bleak and introspective for the most part this is one that will likely appeal to fans of Voivod and Neurosis but Celan are not a band that can easily be pigeon-holed and are clearly well on the way to developing into a unique proposition. A fine example is the dark and harrowing, twelve minute plus, 'Lunchbox' which begins with a solitary keyboard drone for the best part of five minutes before the rest of the band join in and it evolves into a devastating climax that works superbly.

A fine debut, Halo has just been released via Exile on Mainstream Records.

Track Listing
1. Safety Recall Notice
2. A Thousand Charms
3. All This And Everything
4. One Minute
5. Sinking
6. Weigh Tag
7. Washing Machine
8. Train of Thought
9. It's Low
10. Wait and See
11. Lunchbox

Added: May 6th 2009
Reviewer: Dean Pedley
Score:
Related Link: Band MySpace
Hits: 3589
Language: english

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