Thread "Abnormal Love" Middle Pillar MPP993 2001 (48:52)
The Horror of the Undeserved Gift (1/3) - End of Things
(:26)
THOTUG (2/3) - The Vessel (3:57)
A Cloud Without Form (4:06)
Biomechanical Intercourse (:40)
The
Malformed Heart (5:50)
THOTUG (3/3) - Pain Compensation (:53)
In
Sweet Sorrow (Duet Version) (4:33)
Blue Darkness (Orchestral Mix) (4:22)
God's
Morse Code (Live) (9:20)
2-Wards (:36)
Contours (3:29)
Saudade (2:02)
Segue (Buried Twins) (:13)
Skyscrapers
and Sand (3:15)
New Horizons (5:10)
Thread is essentially James Izzo and "Abnormal Love" is his debut for Middle Pillar. Izzo has obviously put much effort over the past year into making this album dynamic and diverse with a strong sense of continuity. Each song flows into the next, several with the aid of brief segue tracks, to make one cohesive whole out of all the pieces. We shift naturally through passages of sample collage, electro/ebm, orchestra, dub, piano arrangement and ambient soundscape. Three songs have vocals. Izzo's are a bit pallid on their own, as on part 2 of "The Horror of the Undeserved Gift", but more functional alongside those of former SWANS member Jarboe. "Biomechanical Intercourse / The Malformed Heart" gets things pumping with a steady electro heartbeat rhythm. "In Sweet Sorrow (Duet Version)" differs from the single version (see Thread "In Sweet Sorrow") in that it's shorter and adds Izzo's low pitched masculine voice as counterpoint to Jarboe's light feminine vocals. "Blue Darkness (Orchestral)" blurs unintelligible voices amongst foreboding orchestral synth melodies. "God's Morse Code" is a groove-y 9 and 1/2 minute live jam of underwater alien dub featuring the help of two extra players. "Contours" is a bizarre and somewhat difficult mix of percussion and duet vocals, Jarboe especially taking on a more devilish persona. "Saudade" (Portuguese for 'homesickness') is a beautifully sparse solo piano piece. And "Skyscrapers and Sand" and "New Horizons" bring the album to an optimistic close with over 8 minutes of mellow ambiance. Altogether "Abnormal Love" is Thread's most accomplished and impressive work to date. This is not merely a haphazard collection of random tracks, but instead a carefully thought out and arranged album ...
Thread
Middle Pillar
Sensory Expansion
Media
Where did I get this cd? - promo from Sensory Expansion Media