Nosferatu Pharmaceuticals - Banishes Groundless Fear, Wretchedness And Thought [Kovorox Sounds - 2011]This rather lengthily entitled release is the first sonic fruits from this decidedly retro sounding synth project that boil up a mixture of wonky, noisy ebbed and lo-if instrumental synth tracks that come across as a either lo-fi horror synth sound tracking from the late 70’s or early 80’s, or wound down, basic and noise fed electronica with some subtle old school industrial edges The Nosferatu Pharmaceuticals project is a collaboration between Scottish based noise maker ‘n’ soundscaper Lea Cummings (Kylie Minoise, Opaque and many other projects) and Sarah Glass(whom I seem to be able to find little about). The nine short-ish tracks(running time between just over three to just under five minutes) on offer here are all constructed using EDP Wasp synthesizers- which was an popular 1970’s/ 1980s synth. The tracks vary from slow, bleak ‘n’ throbbing simplistic yet atmospheric synth unfolds, to upbeat locked electro beat work-outs and synth washers, onto sleazy ‘n’ creepy horror soundtrack like unfolds, through to sombre yet wavering synth waltz, onto brooding ‘n’ noise tinged coarse ambient drifts. Through-out the albums nicely varied, consistent & the tracks are often memorable. I’ll have to say I’m rather taken by “Banishes Groundless fear…” as it offers up a nicely lo-fi & varied collection of synth scaping 'n' dark mood setting electronics that are decidedly retro, yet somehow darkly ‘n’ sleazily distinctive. This is one for those who dig old 70’s & 80’s horror soundtracks, or those who like mainly dark tinged lo-fi retro synth scaping. Roger Batty
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