Flesh Clocks — Columns Of Blood (For Adriana Varejão)

Here is a stylishly packaged cdr on Ink Runs Recordings - the resurgent label run by Charlotte and Julien Skrobek. Starkly minimal and beautifully designed, the words and imagery are printed on transparent paper and textured paper (respectively): very simple, unadorned and effective. Flesh Clocks offer one track, exactly twenty minutes long, called “Columns Of Blood (For Adriana Varejao)”. The back cover of the cdr tells us that the Skrobeks have divided their roles in the simplest manner: Charlotte is responsible for the low frequencies, and Julien the high. As if to emphasise this, the first five minutes are low frequencies alone; before the high frequencies jump in exactly on the five minute mark.

The low frequency wall is like a muffled, distant waterfall; with a hard bass undercurrent. The power of this water flow is unmistakable and clear, but it remains deadened by distance or an obstruction between itself and the ear. When the high frequencies come in, they bring a much more different sound world into play. Here, the metaphors must be of rock and stone; the high wall sounds like rain of the smallest gravel - “gravel” taken to its finest, most exquisite, crystalline sense. As another stark contrast to the low frequencies, the sound of the high frequencies is close-up, microscopic, very sharp and precise. Layered together, as they are for the remaining fifteen minutes, the two walls combine to produce an incredibly strong, distinct wall. Whilst it is hard, there’s no real sense of brutality; possibly due to the allusions to abstract art, science and formality in the artwork, colouring and guiding the listener’s perception. It does seem to demand a detached, contemplative listen.

Ink Runs Recordings has been producing some great work of recent and this is just another example. “Columns Of Blood (For Adriana Varejao)” has a very distinct, idiosyncratic feel to it; helped by its unusual formal gestures: the division of roles according to frequencies and the entry of the high frequencies after exactly five minutes. This, almost “scientific”, approach is new and different; its one of the ingredients which mark out the label as one of immense interest and importance. Another excellent release from an excellent label.