Unfathoms
Sounds of an Islander's City...


1.5
very poor

Review

by Eclectic USER (42 Reviews)
July 22nd, 2010 | 143 replies


Release Date: 2010 | Tracklist

Review Summary: Grating, meandering noise, "Sounds of an Islander's City" gets swallowed up by its own bloated concept.

Music is an ambiguous thing, impossible to define. It therefore stands to reason that proclaiming something as good music should be viewed as idiotic. As they say, one man’s trash is another man’s treasure. Yet we still try, stubbornly comparing everything to everything else in an attempt to decide for ourselves, what exactly is good music. Naturally there comes a time when an artist attempts to break those boundaries and push music to its limits. By forgetting the boundaries that make music “enjoyable”, the artists are allowed to explore their own abilities more freely. Sometimes this can lead to astounding results (Radiohead) and sometimes it just falls flat, clearly trying way too hard and unfortunately falling on its face as a result.

Sounds of an Islander's City, Touch of a Medieval Faerie is unfortunately the latter, trying to express a concept (technology’s murder of music) by murdering music with technology. It’s an interesting idea, I’ll give Unfathoms (real name Austin Tracey) that, but the last time I checked murdering music wasn’t a pleasant thing to behold. It’s like if, to demonstrate how wrong it is to kill someone, I went and killed someone personally. It doesn’t matter that it was for educational purposes, the fact remains that I murdered someone.

There’s almost no melody to be found here, the closest thing being little excerpts spliced together in the most random manner possible while screeching computer noises and grating static play over the top. That’s essentially the entire EP, with the tracks blending together to create an almost solid mass of horrific, head-ache inducing “music”. This isn’t just abrasive, this is downright fucking abusive. The only real upside here is the opening track, that features a few interesting samples hidden away in the background. They almost make it enjoyable, its possible that if the listener can stomach listening to it half-a-dozen times (which I did, lord bless my soul) to let it grow on them, they might actually end up liking it.

I am honestly surprised my dog hasn’t started tearing my arm off to get me to stop playing this, it seriously sounds like the kind of noise that is used to mess with people’s heads. It messed with mine that is for sure; I now have a minor headache and am forever grateful dial-up internet is a thing of the past.



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user ratings (12)
2.3
average


Comments:Add a Comment 
Eclectic
July 22nd 2010


3302 Comments

Album Rating: 2.0 | Sound Off

Bleck



I hope Bitchfork enjoys this, if he doesn't then it's just going to make the hour or so of listening to the EP an even worse experience.

Bitchfork
July 22nd 2010


7581 Comments


Lol. I still like the concept, if only because like, the point is to murder "music," and push it's sonic and conceptual boundaries. But yeah my Demo was sooo much better than this. It was also 3 minutes long.

Enrique made me a mediafire folder for this:
http://www.mediafire.com/?p18ye4hse2g53ep

bailar11
July 22nd 2010


2433 Comments


last time someone tried to murder music we ended up with brokencyde

Eclectic
July 22nd 2010


3302 Comments

Album Rating: 2.0 | Sound Off

At least you admit you've done better, rather then being all high and mighty, telling me that I'm an idiot for "not getting it"

Deviant.
Staff Reviewer
July 22nd 2010


32289 Comments


Bitchfork 5'd his own work, the joke just got even more unfunny

Bitchfork
July 22nd 2010


7581 Comments


At least you admit you've done better, rather then being all high and mighty, telling me that I'm an idiot for "not getting it"

My demo EP was eleven tracks, none of which were layered. The first track layers those tracks 3 times, so, if you like the first track the most, the demo is probs your noiz.

Bitchfork 5'd his own work, the joke just got even more unfunny

Dude I am the next Whitehouse what are you talking about?

bailar11
July 22nd 2010


2433 Comments


well since i feel it neccesary to 5 all of enirque's dicog i suppose its only fair that you 5 your own

Eclectic
July 22nd 2010


3302 Comments

Album Rating: 2.0 | Sound Off

Nah, Brokencyde just don't realize they're murdering music. They think they're doing it a favour.

bailar11
July 22nd 2010


2433 Comments


pretty sure they realize that theyre whole act is a joke and they just embrace it. i mean have you seen the freaxxx music video?

Eclectic
July 22nd 2010


3302 Comments

Album Rating: 2.0 | Sound Off

I might give your demo a listen later Bitchfork. Right now I just really want to listen to plain old rock music, I don't know why, I just do.

Bitchfork
July 22nd 2010


7581 Comments


Odd that you think the first track is the best, actually. Enrique and I discussed things and both agreed "Napolean" was our collective favorite.

bailar11
July 22nd 2010


2433 Comments


3rd track is prety cool. maybe its because the 1st track was your first taste of the sound.

Bitchfork
July 22nd 2010


7581 Comments


If it makes you feel better, Eclectic, I'm copyrighting an ambient EP soon, called Speaker Music, Volume Uno. Heavy on the harps and horns.

I also have a noiz LP in the works, entitled Prolixity. It's less noisy and more structured than this.

Eclectic
July 22nd 2010


3302 Comments

Album Rating: 2.0 | Sound Off

pretty sure they realize that theyre whole act is a joke and they just embrace it. i mean have you seen the freaxxx music video?


I have, but I also know kids that genuinely enjoy them because they think they're good musicians. It really wouldn't surprise me if Brokencyde think they're geniuses for pioneering crunkcore.



@Bitchfork: Those samples in the background are really what makes it stand out for me.

Eclectic
July 22nd 2010


3302 Comments

Album Rating: 2.0 | Sound Off

If it makes you feel better, Eclectic, I'm copyrighting an ambient EP soon, called Speaker Music, Volume Uno. Heavy on the harps and horns.


Cool, does sound more my style

bailar11
July 22nd 2010


2433 Comments


I have, but I also know kids that genuinely enjoy them because they think they're good musicians. It really wouldn't surprise me if Brokencyde think they're geniuses for pioneering crunkcore.


very true with that point actually. and most people think popularity is indicative of quality. lol not the case.

Bitchfork
July 22nd 2010


7581 Comments


@Bitchfork: Those samples in the background are really what makes it stand out for me.

Do you mean the falling horns and whooshes?

Eclectic
July 22nd 2010


3302 Comments

Album Rating: 2.0 | Sound Off

Do you mean the falling horns and whooshes?


The horns mostly

Bitchfork
July 22nd 2010


7581 Comments


I asked the Meds. Although I don't understand why Jom gets most of the credit for being a mod, I heard from Hanson that Dave's the one with all the power.

Anyway, "Tumult" is so epic. lol.

Eclectic
July 22nd 2010


3302 Comments

Album Rating: 2.0 | Sound Off

Eh, for me its always either Jom or Willie that approve features, just my experience.



Ugh, Tumult, ugh



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