Customer Reviews

infirmus

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Bassist Dan Menapace has put forth a stellar effort on his very first solo album "infirmus" by Suboculis. Known locally in San Francisco for his tight bass playing in bands Kineto and a newer project called The I.R.D, with infirmus we get to see the real talent this musician has to offer.

infirmus has a beautifully dark, ambient edge to it combining electronica and industrial music with bass. It's infinitely listenable as it never veers too far towards being just one genre, Suboculis mixes it up and thanks to quality production work the transitions are seamless. Listeners will discover influences of Tool, Brian Eno, Chris Vrenna and Trent Reznor but Menapace makes the music his own with his distinctive bass playing.

The album opens with "Causality" - a haunting, bass-laden gem with an industrial sound and some spoken word. One thing listeners will note is that this music would be perfect for soundtracks. It's got that energetic, dark, at times almost creepy sound that could be heard anywhere from the Bourne Identity to hip police crime dramas ("Reset Node" would be perfect for this). Track 3 "Phobophobia" is particularly dark and would work deliciously well in a scene with a serial killer stalking his prey - sitars and chimes and the deep bass and crazy electronic noise combine to unsettle the listener in the best possible way. But don't get too scared, Suboculis picks up the tempo again with the instantly catchy "Narrow Escape" (based on The Cuban Missile Crisis) and the drum n' bass, glitch inspired "Oscillatio". Bass fans will appreciate the funky lo-fi sound on "In Vitro".

A standout addition to the album, infirmus closes with "The Sludge Chronicles", which tells the story of leaking radioactive waste and the destruction of a marine habitat. Suboculis will leave you wondering "What is it you fear?".