Sewer Goddess - Eris Sadisticum

One of the true pleasures of being in this line of work is discovering new stuff, and finding a hierarchy attached to it. Sewer Goddess is a relatively new, previously unheard of American based project. This is one of many releases by Silken Tofu - also an unheard of but seemingly promising label.

Coming in a small case, complete with a 3" CD (I love those), I am instantly taken by attention to detail with the packaging from Silken Tofu. Also, a bit of promotional propaganda cites this as a Power Electronic recording. I'm sceptical to new Power Electronic acts at the best of times; however, more detailed diagnosis shows this to be produced by a certain Xardas. If this is the same Xardas behind Veinen, and the godly work that is 20.SV, I fully expect this to go down as a somnambulant masterpiece.

It's certainly looking good from the offset as well - the Intro is a really resonant wall of Electronica, the kind you expect to hear if a giant magnetic field suffered interference. It's actually relatively mellow however, as the waves have a nice secondary pulse in the background.

This immediately leads into "Invocations of the Last Cruel Nymph" - (I do love occult titles), and it is here where the release shows what it can really offer us. A good release can startle and disturb the listener, as just when you begin to get comfortable with the un-nerving changes in tone and frequency, all hell breaks loose and some freakishly eerie sound affects kick in. I'm not sure whether or not I can hear Human effects on this, but it seriously sounds like a Banshee wailing over the top. So far, so good.

Even more impressively, the tracks weave and fade into each other perfectly, and at times, it's hard to remember that this is not a one track release.

The closer doesn't reassure either, it starts off quiet and more relaxed, but it ends up as a proper, hallmarking Electronic piece.

So, first impression of artist and label? Let's just say I can't wait to hear more from both!!

Limited to 100 copies, act fast if you wish to hear this. The promo slip I have with it describes this as : "Heavy Electronics and Twisted black atmospheres spiralling down into Discordia". Jan 01 2006