
Where - Wererat [Eibon records - 2006]Wererat seems to be concept album related to the nuclear testing and bombing on the Engebi Island in the 1950’s. They experimental for four years on the deserted island- it destroyed vegetation buildings ect, but bizarrely the only thing that survived were rats, been there no food of any form and having to endure great temperatures- it’s mystery quite how and why the Rats existed. Where offer up is dark ambient, droning creep scapes to investigate the story in sound form. Where them self’s seemed just a puzzling as the concept- there no info who’s involved, We’re only told that it features recording made in rat invested sewers. How much these have been altered or added to is unclear. I Guess closet comparison’s would have to be some like the concept based albums of German industrial ambient explores Schloss Tegal, But were use little or no voice samples which is often part of Schloss Tegal work. This really is very creepy and dread filled landscape- It sounds as if it’s been made with electronics of some sort, but it all very lo-fi. Also I can detect guitar element but very modified, as well as this they used water and elementary sounds. Also what truly sounds like pained animal recordings, which I’m sure there not, but never the less it make one feel very uncomfortable - really everything here is made to make you feel the most unpleasant and disturbed really. The album is rather bottom heavy with two go towards twenty minute tracks to exit the album. with the longer it’s all very murky soundwise difficult to really divine what’s making all the sounds, and quite what is so unpleasant about it all, but it surely is- really I guess the best to describe it is drone music that seems built from shifting murky tone.But there’s more going on then that- half heard sounds seem hover in the distant leaving a rather eerier and plainly unpleasant feeling. The early tracks you can possible relate to what could be freaking you out with there mixes of; animal like pain, haunted moans seemly bellow over a mist and water shrouded sound scape. One of the better and more puzzling Dark ambient release your likely to come across this year, with a nice balanced between shorter freak you out track and longer more sinister proposition. It will have you feel like little red Rat eyes are watching from the Connor of the room.      Roger Batty
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