Wrekmeister Harmonies — Then It All Came Down

Wrekmeister Harmonies is an experimental music collective based out of Chicago, IL.  It is lead by JR Robinson and combines elements of drone, post-rock and metal.  Various musicians have been associated with Wrekmeister Harmonies such as Wrest of Leviathan, Sanford Parker, Ryley Walker, Bruce Lamont, Chanel Pease and Chris Brokaw.  This is Wrekmeister Harmonies second release with Thrill Jockey.

Then It All Came Down was inspired by an essay written by Truman Capote who had interviewed Charles Manson associate Bobby Beausoliel (here’s a link to the interview http://capote.wordpress.com/2011/05/14/truman-capote-interviews-bobby-beausoleil-san-quentin-1973/).    Wrekmeister Harmonies typically performs a single composition, at times an hour in length.  Then It All Came Down is a composition lasting 34 minutes.

Chords droning along, growing louder begin the piece.   A few sparks of sound illuminate from behind, bells and hand cymbals and soft chanting add a peaceful if somewhat new age sound.  The chords start turning minor and we can feel ourselves descending adding a bit of sinister emotion to our tranquil setting.  Echoing bass lines and raspy, distorted vocals brings with it an ominous violence.  Those sounds too disintegrate into very clear tones (maybe violins?) our descent is paused, the mood is not as dark but still melancholy; until a crescendo of vocals soar along with guitars strumming. The buzz of bass and guitars create a powerful, sluggish drone.  Soulful screams, drums pounding, heavy snare and cymbals pull us into an undertow until a final chord is strummed.  Grating vocals arise again, creating a passionate clash against the arpeggios played delicately.  The sounds slowly disappear into chords again, just as it all began.

To review Wrekmeister Harmonies is subjective, as this really is a piece of living art.  Reading Capotes interview adds to this piece if not only for the contradiction of answers by Beausoliel (the disturbing sounds that overturn the peaceful beginning?) and a comment on the title Then It All Came Down, or as Beausoliel says in the interview “If that’s how it came down. Everything that happens is good”.   Good or bad everything that happens is meant to happen until the next cycle. Wrekmeister have received praise from various magazines and websites and rightly so:  Then It All Came Down is a thoughtful, precise, composition, hopefully one that will be recreated live.