Customer Reviews

Oah

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Previous fans of David Torn will find both familiar and unfamiliar sonic ground in Splattercell: the disc is rife with the twisted guitar tones and inventive lines that Torn sensei is known for, but here they're combined with an electronic edge that gives the music a rave-during-computer-meltdown feel. Much more percussive and often sparser than Torn's previous recordings, and utterly infectious - I find myself occasionally lying awake with rhythm loops from this disc percolating through my brain. The presence of the electronica strain, which has been cropping up lately in virtually every musical genre (save perhaps "young country") may make this more accessible to those unfamiliar with Torn's previous output, and should seduce them into finding out more about one of the truly unique voices in modern music.

I have purchased this album three times, every time worth it. A friend of mine who introduced it to me, bought it more than once too. Why? Because, it is very likely to get borrowed forever. This is an album you want people to hear. This is an album people don't easily give back. It is orchestral, progressing in movements, capturing the essence of many genres and fusing them together in a beautiful musical abstract that leaves you wishing it was longer and ever more in depth. If you ever get a chance to watch a movie called "fantastic planet" this album is the perfect soundtrack.

Whenever a sample-happy metallic beat emerges we're in exciting new territory; unfortunately David Torn seldom lets a riff go on long enough to come close to satisfying. It's as if he wants to show off, to shock us a little, but is afraid we'll run away if he does an entire song in that mode. And then, over and over, we get these lengthy pseudo-flamenco maunderings that go absolutely nowhere no way nohow. And I personally hate it when an album has ONE vocal right in the middle. Torn would be much better off rocking the house with guest vocalists and leaving all that "thoughtful" dead air way behind. As it is, I couldn't get my head into this record one way or the other. It's too loud [occasionally] to be any kind of ambient, but the big beats fizzle out just when they've drawn you in. Why call yourself Splattercell if you're only going to sound like that 20% of the time?