Coagulating Wreckage
Prima Momentum
Phobos II
Subterra Humidor
Intermitent Cycles
Winds of Minos Linea
Derimos II
Crimson Road
Purge
Iszoloscope (Tomes Un)
Contemplating Paranoia & The Morning After

Canadian-based Iszoloscope is the brainchild of Yann Faussurier.

The album opens with the title track "Coagulating Wreckage", building up with groans, static electronics then a harsh beat and rhythm emerges, getting louder and falling becoming more dense. The slow pace continues to the next track "Prima Momentum" with panning static and film samples, slow repetitive, rhythmic electronics sweeping over and manic samples emerging and disappearing. My favourite track of the album, "Phobus II", begins with a great build up then a steady beat with beautiful, panning rhythmic noise encouraging hard repetitive rhythms. A biting, punctuating, metallic beat is brought to a halt, rhythms flowing back and forth then its back to the harsh beat, building back up to end. It reminds me of the finer rhythmic moments of Imminent or Sonar. Track 5 "Intermittent Cycles" is of the same tempo; harsh, rhythmic with distorted parts it builds up with several layers which constantly surprise in their intensity. File next to Converter.

There are darker moments on the album, which I wouldn't have expected. "Subterra Humidor" features static drones, dark echoing male voices and electronic samples throughout. "Winds of Minos Linea" is similar in feel: wonderful dark ambient, dark static electronics groans and is absent of beats and rhythms. Lifting the tempo somewhat, "Derimos II" builds up from static drones to bigger beats; rhythmic but not too harsh. Then out of nowhere a fast, dense electronic beat a la Converter takes over to cut. "Crimson Road" is a similar tempo but with industrial clangs and echoing rhythms over film samples. Track 10 "Iszoloscope (Tomes Un)" has really soaring electronics with strings, drones and voice samples, building up at the finale. What is slightly confusing is that what is listed as track 11, "Contemplating Paranoia & The Morning After", is actually a few minutes after a silence on track 10. Slow static rhythms fluctuate with a soundtrack feel then it picks up with dull beats and light percussion reminding me of the 1954 film "Them". Altogether, the rhythmic intensity I would expect of Iszoloscope is present throughout but I was pleasantly surprised with the darker side of the project.

JLM