Morte Macabre - Symphonic Holocaust

Year of Release: 1999
Label: Mellotronen
Catalog Number: MELLOCD 008
Format: CD
Total Time: 55:33:00

Morte Macabre are Nicklas Berg, Stefan Dimle, Reine Fiske, and Peter Nordins - members of Anekdoten and Landberk. Knowing of any or both the bands will give you a good clue as to the style of music played here - that is, given the title of both the band and the album, you know you aren't going to get happy, uplifting pop music.

Interesting thing about the packaging before we delve into the review proper - the CD itself is protected by a gauze sleeve (like LP's used to be, only paper). My first thought was of medical gauze - i.e. bandages. The music here is a melding of progressive music and horror themes - nothing new, as the liner notes state - but I had to wonder if the choice of material for the sleeve was deliberate, or that I'm equally macabre.

Alright then, what about the music. Dark it is, without a doubt. What film music is interpreted here? "Apoteosi Del Mistero" from City Of The Living Dead, "Sequenza Ritmica Etema" from The Beyond, and the very eerie "Lullaby" from Rosemary's Baby. I've never seen the film, though I've seen clips, and this is truly an eerie, creepy track. (Was the original film music this creepy?)

I was intrigued by this not because I am a horror film buff, but because of the artists involved. The minimalism present in much of Landberk's work is present here, not surprising. In someways, the arrangements are spare, open, and airy yet never light. The negative view to what is really a very good album is that it is very depressing, much is played at a very slow pace. I can see that an audience used to upbeat (at least musically) stylings of Yes, for example, would find this the antithesis.

Mellotron is used extensively - all four instrumentalists play at one time or another. Vocals, though no lyrics, appear only on the above mentioned "Lullaby" There is complex interplay between the musicians, strange counterpoints, at times the music is off-kilter. Evident most perhaps in title track which closes the album - on which Nicklas Berg's guitar occassionally vears off into discord.

Do I like it? I'm not quite sure. From a purely compositional perspective I do; I admire the skill these musicians possess. And I recommend it on that basis. As something I could listen to repeatedly? Probably not - just a little too dark for me.

Tracklisting:
Apoteosi Del Mistero (4:16) / Threats Of Stark Reality (2:59) / Sequenza Ritmica Etema (7:02) / Lullaby (8:02) / Quiet Drops (6:43) / Opening Theme (2:50) / The Photosession (7:10) / Symphonic Holocaust (17:51)

Musicians:
Nicklas Berg - mellotron, Fender Rhodes, Theremin, sampler, guitar, bass
Stefan Dimle - bass, mellotron, Moog
Reine Fiske - guitars, mellotron, violin, Fender Rhodes
Peter Nordins - drums, percussion, mellotron
Yessica Lindkvist - voice (4)
Janne Hansson - waves (7)

Discography:
Symphonic Holocaust (1999)

Genre: Other

Origin SE

Added: April 10th 1999
Reviewer: Stephanie Sollow
Score:
Hits: 3421
Language: english