Oscillotron — Eclipse
The CD release offers up six tracks that last between just under the five minute, to near on the nine minute mark. The album is built around a series of retro sounding synthesizer's that are from time to time embellished with dramatic drum machine rhythms.
Each of the six tracks here are well composed and put together with Johansson nicely building the feeling of action, dread & cinematic cheesiness through-out. The album claims to ‘take the listener on a journey through intense and relentless narratives as though telling a horror story itself’, and I think that is my problem with the release as a whole, as to me about 45% of the tracks here sound either too up-beat, bright & 1980’s TV cop show bound for their own good; or result to a sort of wondering mock melancholic which brings to mind lovers splitting up, & not dread-filled horror. There are a more than a few rapid & bobbing, sun scorched or neo licked synth lines here that are propelled along by dramatic 1980’s drum machines. Sure there are effective dark, moody & more brooding/ sinister moments here too, but the brighter/ up-beat moments rather detract from the supposed horror story telling.
I’d say it’s tracks three & four( Oracle & Assembly) that are the worse offenders in their bobbing bright-ness, and while the other tracks from time to time sound too mock melancholic for their own good. The most effective & horror fed moments here come in the form of “Dawn” with it’s morbid & slightly tone shifting synth wooziness that’s pulled along by shambling 'n' wavering semi-wonky beats. The eerier trickling water intro of “Eclipse”, which slowly builds up cheesy dread with sustained synth string horror & stabbing bass synth throbs, before taking off into a dark ‘n’ rolling bass synth march that’s still under fed by sustained higher pitched synth dread. Or the later part of “Terror”, which locks down into a pounding yet eerier electronic rhythm pulse that’s surrounded by building & creepy synth note weaves; though the start of the track feels too wishy-washy broken hearted love scene like.
So to sum up this is well put together & played bit of retro electronics that will be enjoyed by those who like a mix of up-beat bobbing 80’s Electronica & more moody horror soundtracking- I just wish the album did’nt try & sell it’s self as a pure horror themed ride, as clearly it’s not.