Review Summary: Two recordings that seem incompatible but are actually perfect for each other
Whenever I listen to
Split I, a collaboration between Judio’s ambient project
A Slow Descent and Frippertronics’ drone output
Tryst, I can’t help but get this uncanny vibe from it. The two tracks to be found here are both radically different from each other. “Monuments to Your Life’s Work” has a dark, moody sensation to it, creating this “space-y” atmosphere out of subtle, paper-thin synths. It creates this unwelcomely tension that brings you to the edge of your seat, waiting for something horrible to happen. It creates premonition, which makes Tryst’s track the perfect follow-up for a song.
Tryst’s recording, “Frankie”, is a stark contrast from “Monuments to Your Life’s Work”: While “Monuments…” takes it’s time to create a dense atmosphere, “Frankie” simply starts out loud and violent. Using distorted, almost unintelligible samples of
Suicide songs such as “Ghost Rider” and “Frankie Teardrop”, (hence the name “Frankie”), it makes you jump out of your seat the first time you hear it. The high pitched rings topple over the razor-sharp screeches make for a very harsh listen, and those Suicide samples I mentioned earlier are so misshapen and loud, they could probably do some major damage to your hearing.
Split I is a very well done example of how to make two completely different recordings of different genres work well, hand-in-hand. The spooky atmosphere of “Monuments to Your Life’s Work” acts as the perfect build up to the dishearteningly noisy “Frankie”, making for a very enjoyable listen.
