MMMOOONNNOOO – The Act in Between
10.7.15 by Jacob DeRaadt

Industrial techno is a genre spawned by the later-era work of acts like Cabaret Voltaire and Belgian EBM outfits like Front 242. Techno and industrial share a bloodlink of cold rhythms reflecting the mechanized, organized chaos that the urban cosmopolis exudes. This sonic virus has reached a meager popularity in certain pockets of the United States underground in recent years (due to the influence of taste-makers like Hospital Productions and Ascetic House), but has been a full-fledged movement much longer in Europe and parts of Asia. This one-man project from Lisbon, Portugal’s second release shows a further progression of his debut album, “Zorn Gottes” on ANVL Records in 2014. According to the artist, the release was an anticipation and reaction to his trip to Tokyo to perform at the Red Bull Music Academy last year.

There’s a great variety of approaches presented during the course nine songs spanning 35 minutes. “Lost Recollections” has some hypnotic elements approaching the feel of forced record loops, while “Decay Movement” creates a shimmering distorted drone field for the ear to take a leisurely walk in. Gorgeous, stark emptiness of the more ambient passages are contrasted with terse rhythms, like a much more minimal version of Human Particle’s abstract, dubby movements. “Preliminary Functions” has crisp, digital clicks calling to mind elements of Pan Sonic’s catalog. All of the tracks have a vaguely episodic feel, like transitioning from various forms of public transit at a disorienting pace.

This is a delicate, thoughtful collection of vignettes from a newer project. It has so much focus and drive that it bears a greater depth of detail upon each listen. I’ve listened through it at least a dozen times at this point, and it just keeps getting better. What really ties this release together is the sense of foreboding, futurist melancholy permeating both sides of its varied moods and textures. Horrible band name, exceptional release.

MMMOOONNNOOO’s The Act in Between is available in an edition of 100 copies from the Phinery sister label Speaker Footage.