seven

as always flatline seems to put out very unique artists that sound nothing like one another and place themselves into a category all their own. obviously noisex, newt, and implant are good examples so far. with the two last very impressive releases from noisex with "serious killer", and implant with "kmputor", flatline gives us yet another glittering prize. I first heard of spies on the flatline compilation 2 and was very impressed with the track "les ailes du desír", which is on this full-length release. I was always wondering when and where i could get some further material from these artists. finally i have it and am not the least disappointed.

working with several directions of electronic genres from dark ambient and EBM to ritual goa trance, spies incorporates idealism similar to the likes of juno reactor, individual totem, and dark soho, just to name a few. these French paris-based artists originally where discovered through japanese label technoflux and mike maguire of juno reactor, but now flatline has recognized the possibilities they have to offer.

the idealism of spies revolves around actual live mutli-media installations that actually make this release more of a soundtrack for the mind that focuses on the liberation of artistic expression through music and video. this eleven track release is only the beginning to what seems to be very interesting future for these diversified musicians.

as with most soundtrack-oriented releases, it is very tough to pick out simple favorites, since they interact and blend together perfectly telling a story in its entirety. there are some very enticing highlights to describe on particular tracks though. "les ailes du desír" engages with heavy orchestrated chords and air choir assaults while powerful quadrants of goa-tribal rhythms accelerate and later kick in a very attractive and bouncy nature as the track ascends with cool ferocity. "instead of" works with surreal tribal echoes and unmethodical tribal rhythms that pace nicely with analog step melodies while strange reverbed samples flicker in the distance. track ten, "t:d:r:o:s" works with very attractive goa-guitar chords and wobbly patches that ascend nicely with brute hyper-cool rhythms and beautiful cascading cold pads and sample patches that transition throughout. a very relentless track that shines with perfect composition. while "reminiscence" ends with a converging balance of fast-paced goa-rhythms and distant haunting and mystical chants that assimilate seductive analog synth grooves that overwhelm and fade to darker corners of the mind.

i've been listening to this release off and on for about two months now and never seem to grow tired of its very transitional and seductive nature. this is definitely a another release one should not be without from flatline.