Ancient Technology Cult Decensus Ad Inferos Play: Lo-Fi   Mid-Fi   Hi-Fi   Download: Lo-Fi   Mid-Fi   Hi-Fi (Excerpt from track 'Decensus Ad Inferos')

CDR/ 1 track / 58.47 mins

So Jim has this time decided to resurrect the Ancient Technology Cult name, but really if you liked stuff under his own name (Jim Kirkwood) or Lucifaere you should definitely go for this as well as it still has all his trademarks. A particularly fine example of his art it is too. There is just one long track- the title track. Tinkling chimes and animal noises initially give a rather tropical feeling to proceedings but the mood changes completely as we get a cacophony of sound, swirling noises and what could be the howling of a wolf. Then vast, and I mean VAST organ sounds explode from the speakers, as if coming from the very bowels of hell played in suitably demonic fashion- very powerful stuff. This then fades away as a stonking sequence surges forward.

It is accompanied by another percussive sequence and a gorgeous thick but also mysterious lead line, grabbing equal attention with the sequences. We are only eight minutes in and things are already extremely intense with so many layers of activity, each one screaming for your attention. It is best to initially take it as one wonderful whole, letting each intricate element reveal itself with repeated listening. Things calm down in the eleventh minute as we are, for a short time, just left with a delicate tinkling sequence and soft pads but then we get some additional distorted percussive effects through which a rhythm emerges fitting in with these effects perfectly. It makes a highly inventive but also accessible body moving groove. Sequences change; more are added whilst others depart, strident lead lines joining in with the fun from time to time. By the seventeenth minute, just before overload is reached, everything departs and we are left with a montage of strange effects and shinning / shimmering almost ringing drones. A restrained melodic loop comes in and then some monastic chanting along with a relaxed rhythm of a type and sound I can't remember Jim using before.

This all goes to form a rather atmospheric but also intriguing section. Quite wonderful actually, showing that even though a Kirkwood album can always be recognised he tends to have a way of including new elements with each CD to give them a special identity. A slow pulse comes to the fore and new looped lead elements begin to form. A sequence can be heard building low in the mix before rising through the other sounds and being joined by a second rapid one. It grows to be something of a stormer and we hurtle forwards once again. More sequences are added and we develop a devastating head of steam. I thought it was going to end in some vast explosion but instead it rapidly descends to calmness at just after the half hour mark. We remain in a lovely state of float for a few minutes then a large drum is heard, calling out. It is answered by a beautiful, delicate melody. A shuffling rhythm comes into play augmented by a sequence which chugs along almost mimicking the beats. It's clever but also extremely effective forming the perfect backing as the melody line changes. Whether it be little runs of notes, sonic stabs or additional melodic support there is always something happening. We regroup a little latter, a lone sequence being the focus. Multiple lines of pulsation join it and it's up and at em mode again where taking prisoners is not an option. After the battle we get some eerie atmospherics. Out of this, with ten minutes to go, appears a superb looped melodic motif over which shimmering spectres float in the night sky. A staccato melody adds that extra bit of intrigue. Three minutes later it is all change again as another incredibly energetic sequence surges forth. It's as if an irresistible force is flattening everything in its path. We finish with a couple of minutes of atmospherics. One of Jim's finest hours (well OK then, 58 minutes). (DL)

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