Album: Serpentine Gallery
Year: 1995
Genre: Gothic / Industrial
Serpentine Gallery
is an absolute standout in the murky gothic/electro/industrial world. Pigeonholing this album within the confines
of those three aforementioned musical indicators is unfair. There is a whole lot going on 6 feet below
the surface of the gothic tag this album often receives. Can we talk about the “gothic tag” itself for
a moment? As a genre, there are more
sub-par albums and bands than superior ones.
The word gothic conjures instantaneous musical visions of darkness,
despair and beauty. In reality, these
qualities are decently difficult to live up to when put to the task. Most efforts sound like some geek who just
purchased fake vampire fangs and an S/M latex outfit who is recording with
Casio keyboard drum loops, a Crate combo amp and plenty of reverb effects while
doing his or her best Murphy, Siouxsie, Rozz, Diamanda or Eldritch
impersonation. Gothic rock, for the most
part, is very repetitive and confining.
Most records fail because they’re trying too hard to be “dark” and fall
into a bog of songs that sound and feel the same. True ingenuity and talent spawn greatness,
not just gimmicks. Unlike so much of the
original content on the Cleopatra label, Switchblade Symphony have both
ingenuity and talent in spades and use them to their fullest extent on this
record.
Musically, this duo is adventurous and has a dynamic range of style. Main composer Susan Wallace masterfully and seamlessly melds synthetic drums, keyboards and guitars that create a mind-expanding soundscape as the stunning, ethereal and gifted vocals of Tina Root takes the listener on a journey that is both creepy and trippy. The album ebbs and flows effortlessly between electronica and darkwave while refusing to get painted into a shadowy, uncreative corner. An undeniable industrial element to this record exists, yet skillfully avoids sounding mechanical and cold. There is an organic darkness that shines through and doesn’t sound forced while shifting enough musical gears to promote song individuality. To say I truly love this record is an understatement. I find it to be overly imaginative and the high-level creativity and performances of Mses. Wallace and Root keeps me listening regularly.
Listen to "Mine Eyes" here.
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