review :: Keef
Tarmvreds 6581 comes as a bit of a surprise after the monumental Subfusc. While Subfusc had incredibly complex beats making a forever shifting soundscape, this EP concentrates primarily on the sid chip sound (hence - 6581, the name of the C64 sound chip). The beats are less complex and not as powerful as Subfusc and also gone are the average 11 minute length songs (these are about 5 mins each), but the melodies more than make up for it.
I've heard this described as the soundtrack to a C64 game that never was and this is a fair description in all honesty.
This EP shows a marked shift in direction for Tarmvred, in a lot of ways this disc is not as deep as Subfusc and is a lot more accessible than any previous Tarmvred release. This is not neccesarily a bad thing as this release comes just before the release of a new album and it appears to be an almost "pop" EP.
Would I recommend it? Yes! If only because there isn't anything else like it around and the melodies truly are excellent in places. But the one thing I must say is that the EP is just the right length. I don't think an entire 74 minute album of C64/powernoise influenced pop instrumentals would work.
Very good work from Mr Tarmvred, I look forward to what he's going to mutate into for the album!
posted by:
Keef on 2003-12-02 08:00:41
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