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 Review archive:  # a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z

Geisst - Vocatique Sunt [Ominous Recordings - 2017]

Vocatique Sunt is the second release from this Seattle Washington based project who offer up a fairly original sounding take on textured noise with a ghost/spirit based theme. This release appeared in July of this year- coming in either the form of a C60 or digital download. Sadly all that is now available on the label is the download.

The Geisst project is one of the many projects of noise maker/ experimental artists Peter Keller, also of Condo Horro, Bacillus, Dirac Sea, PTRKLLR, & Unser Verhängnis. The theme/ idea behind the project is that all of its noise is untouched by human hands- with the no input walled noise left to sway ‘n’ shift on it’s own- as (if) it’s created by ghosts, malevolent spirit, or something else that is lurking in Mr. Keller’s basement.  I was a huge, huge fan of this projects debut album- Unstable Spirits the three CDR set that appeared on Altar Of Waste early this year- it offered up a varied selection of ‘walls’ that where distinctive & often unsettling in their feel.

Vocatique Sunt really follows on from the debut’s sound & mood, with Keller offering up four tracks of unsettling & at-times nervy no-input wall craft. Each of the four tracks come in-between eleven & eighteen minutes, and for the most part, the release keeps up the quality & originality of the project's debut.

First, out of the gate, we have “Vocativ I”, this is the longest track here at the 18.22, and to my ears, it’s the least satisfying track here. The ‘wall’ is built around an aggravated & constantly buffeting blend of swaying rips/ tears, tightly knitted weaves of static, and constantly descending crackle. I think the reason I find it less appealing than the other tracks here, is simply down to its rather run-of-the-mill textures utilized- sure it does( at times) become quite hypnotic in it’s agitated & erratic churn, but more often than not I found my mind wondering.

The second track on side A is “Vocative II”, and after the slightly disappointing first track- this is much better, both in textures used & the way they are laid out together. We have an effectively burning & penetrating blend of hovering, though slightly hazy high pitched simmering which has some slight oscillating running through it. This is underpinned by a tight matt rapid swirling mid ranged jitters, drilling low-level buzz ‘n’ hum, and a distant on/off scraping. The whole thing has a nicely seared urgency about it, and deep down there’s also something a little unsettling here too.


Flipping over side B, and we have “Vocative III”, and this track really pares things back for a more sparsely urgent-yet-creepy vibe. We get a focused line of taut & tense juddering ‘n’ hacking- this underfed by a blend circling & slightly pulse mesh of ringing textures. It has a wonderful eerier & tension-filled track, and one can almost imagine some deformed-yet-semi transparent human frame slowly crawling it’s way towards you, as you sit petrified to the spot.

Finishing off side B, and the release we have “Vocative IV”. This is once again another tense-yet-creepy ‘wall’- we get a multi-layered blend of slightly caught ‘n’ billowing mids, ominous & distant galloping rumbles, and higher pitched-yet slightly beaded jitters. The tracks really nicely balances the feel of wonky & haunted industrial searing, with whirring & constantly dread, and tensioned eerier-ness. And I think this may be my favorite moment here.

So aside from the opening track this is really another stellar release from Geisst, and really by any other standards "Vocativ I" is good work- it just lacks the more distinctive edge, focused atmosphere & wholly creepy hypnotics of the other three tracks. Sadly like the project's debut, this release is now out of print- so ones only option(aside from Discogs) is a digital download.

Rating: 3 out of 5Rating: 3 out of 5Rating: 3 out of 5Rating: 3 out of 5Rating: 3 out of 5

Roger Batty
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