Equestrian Vortex — Electronic Ritual
The project brings together Darren Charles & Tony- two ex-members of The Dead End Street Band, which is a now defunct(?) three piece project who brewed up a retro synth sound which brought to mind soundtracks from horror /sci-fi movies from the 70’s/80’s- over the last three or so years the project had released a handful of releases on various underground labels. The Equestrian Vortex uses a fairly similar sound pallet of old synth & electronics to TDESB, but the sound on this release is more up-beat, old school industrial/ electronica tinged, generally more structurally focused, and locked down in it’s central pulsing ‘n’ throbbing themes.
Opening up proceedings we have “Witch House”- this track is centred around a semi ritual, constantly chiming yet eerier harmonic tone. Around this we have the following elements: A buzzing ‘n’ brooding synth bass line. Thin ‘n’ snapping electro percussion, and shifting banks of more noise bound electronic- these take in all manner of moody shimmers, higher pitched swirls, and sweeps. These secondary elements are subtly shifted in a most rewarding & effective manner, and you never feel like it’s treading sonic water, as the pair pull you deeper & deeper into up-beat yet sinister vibe of the track.
Track two comes in the form of “Dreams Of Ryleh”. This track opens up a bit more pared back, slow & creepy with sweeping & stretching of deep synth swirls. But fairly soon the central & constant focuses of the track enters, and this is a circling submarine/ eerier pulse-like radar tone. Around this we get shifting & building layers of: tightly chopping low-to-mid ranged synth layers. Cymbal snapping ‘n’ pulsing electro drums, and higher slightly seared tom hits. As it progress this track rather brought to mind the more hedonistic, layer shifting, yet sinister feel of Coil at their more dance bound, ala Love Secrets Domain album
Next up we have “Viva La Muerte”, and this is the shortest track of the album at the just under the nine minute mark. It opens with just a tight 'n' menacing blend of constantly stabbing & slightly stretching synth melody. Slowly but surely layers of hovering ‘n’ buzzing electronics are added to mix, then a shovelling 'n' knocking electronic beat pattern, and other atmosphere building layers of electronics.
Lastly we have the title track, and this opens around a slurred robot-chopping like synth pattern. Fairly soon additional lines of higher & tightly pulsing ‘n’ spiralling synth layers are added to this mix, but the initial slurred & repetitive chopping stays in the guts of the track, making the whole thing feel quite wonky & unwell. Though-out the rest of the track the pair wonderfully build & build the tension of the whole thing with subtle & well placed layer additions, which includes a buzzing & snapping beat-line, and creative synth/ electronic additions.
All told I must say this is the most consistent work I’ve heard from either The Equestrian Vortex, or the pairs pervious projects. Each track here has a well thought-out central theme, and the pair add rewarding & moody creative additions to each – these pull you in & keep you interested through-out the tracks often nearing twenty minute runtimes. If you enjoy retro focused, up-beat, yet atmospherically moody electronic music Electronic Ritual really is a worthy pickup.