This review was originally posted on August 31st, 2017.
Upon hitting the play button for She The Throne’s self-titled debut album I made the silly assumption that the Manchester, UK based noise and experimental electronic duo was going to be yet another dark ambient and noise clone like so many other projects out there. With a bit of a yawn and a give-me-a-break attitude I continued to listen to ‘Rust Part 1’ for some background noise as I tasked about doing Brutal Resonance business. But I soon found myself in a trance over the effective and hypnotizing noises, samples, and oddities that flowed from my headphones and into my ears.
Before I knew it eight minutes had passed by and I was listening to ‘Rust Part 2’. The transition from song to song was only noticeable because the stream on Bandcamp allows a pause in between songs but this is not how She The Throne wants you to experience this album. All six songs on it are supposed to be non-stop containers of brilliant electronic extravagance influenced by masters of industrial Throbbing Gristle, horror icon John Carpenter, and the experimental metal phenomenon that is Sun O))). A slight rhythm echoed within ‘Rust Part 2’ as vibrant vocals fronted chunks of the song with a creepy, surreal effect. Three minutes and forty some seconds into the song and I was sent through a worm hole as a wall of noise and electronic rumbles filled all my senses. Glitches ended out that roundabout as another seven minutes seemed to disappear before me.
A tape finished its run. An eject. An exchange. And then the play button is hit again. ‘Sometimes My Arms Bend Back’ hit in with an industrial showcase of old-school electronics; raw and sublime. Rhythmic, fascinating, mesmerizing. There are not enough words to describe how I was feeling with my first turn of this track. This is the type of music that makes me feel like a virgin once more; like someone who has never had the pleasure of being graced with such noise before.
Another fade to deep rumblings transitioned me into ‘White Tiger’. I was slowly subjected to harrowing noise and further echoes before She The Throne’s vocalist once again graced me. Half the track was silent and moving while the second half put me into a playfully endearing cyberpunk landscape. I could see neon lights flooding tightly packed marketplaces and busy streets where the most advanced technology was commonplace. Whereas most musicians fail to create a song that can last three minutes without reverting back to the same technique, She The Throne is able to make structures of sound that last for eleven minutes without ever dulling.
The sound of rain and more samples led me into ‘Turiya’ where the light electronic hum continued to pulse. I was led towards gates of vocally powered noise whereas the later song was overtaken with a rhythmic noise ecstasy. The final song on the album ‘Oligarch’ took notes from witch house music but turned it into a movement all of its own. Deep, heavy, destructive; a brilliant and effective way to end out the album.
There might be a theme behind the album there might not be. I took what She The Throne presented to the world and made my own vision out of it and to me the best music allows your imagination to unlock. She The Throne is a prime example of why I keep doing what I keep doing. Receiving so many promos that are discarded to the wayside to discover something like She The Throne is what makes this worth it.
Nine out of ten, easily. This will be playing on my list for the next while, you can count on that.
