Oh man, it’s been a while since I covered something from the wonderful Nefarious Industries. It’s not for lack of interest, either, because everything SonicAbuse ever covered from Nefarious was gold – but somehow, they slipped through the net, so I’m very glad to return to the fold for this stunning release from ChiaraOscuro. Recorded in The TANK, a not-at-all-creepy-sounding steel water tank turned recording space out in Colorado, Rancor:Succor is a 10-track album of drone/ethereal music, taking influence from the likes of SunnO))) and Diamanda Galas. The result is an otherworldly work of art that fits comfortably into Nefarious Industry’s oeuvre, benefitting no end from the label’s commitment to releasing their music as a physical product (in this case including a limited, and rather beautiful box set).
It opens in a lost world of reverb-drenched beauty and mystery, with a track entitled Scorched Season. A unique piece that bridges the soundtrack work of Hans Zimmer (circa Gladiator), the ambient drone of latter-day Earth, and the ethereal soundscapes of Dead Can Dance; the closest actual relative would arguably be Jarboe’s solo efforts, but this is something all its own, and it draws you deep into ChiaraOscuro’s magical realm. It’s followed by the eerie In The Manner Of Serpents, which opens with a heavily layered monologue, the words rippling over one another as feedback slowly arcs beneath the surface. It evolves beautifully, the music swelling beneath the vocals, creating a haunting, multi-faceted piece that seems to work its way beneath the skin and lodge there. The similarly lengthy Her Life Giving Caresses emerges with lighter, airier textures, the vocals gently circling one another, in a manner that seems to bewitch the senses. In contrast, the shorter Narcissus And Echo relies more on lo-fi electronica, with samples shot through the experimental soundscape. Something of a palette cleanser, it leaves Fishwife to see the first side out, the vocals once more to the fore, although the guitars waiting in the wings emerge with significant, almost shocking force during the track’s later stages.
Arguably the closest to a traditional “rock” song, the emotionally charged Stars In Her Hands is led by piano, drawing on sounds not dissimilar to those found in the more haunting back alleys of Nine Inch Nails’ The Fragile. Next up, the gorgeous, slow burning epic, La Perdita, slows the pace right down, focusing on the gorgeous vocals, with only the most minimalist of backdrops to sustain it. Haunting and evocative, it is a ten-minute piece that evolves in front of your very eyes, the beauty and great calm only briefly dispelled by a sonic thunderstorm that, rather than shatter the peace, simply cleanses the ground before a lovely acapaella coda sees the song out. Another track with a subtle Trent Reznor undercurrent, Hiraeth, is a short piece, based around a simple piano motif that benefits from the natural reverb found in the unique recording environment. In contrast, Rancor emerges from a dark haze of drone, before the piano returns. A fluid piece that roams at will across a wide range of genres, it passes through a brief passage that feels like an industrial Kate bush, before returning to the haunting drone with which it opened. The album closes with a short coda – Your Judgements Fortify My Resolve, which helps to ease the listener from out of their reverie. It’s a fitting conclusion to a stunning record, and it leaves you wanting to listen all over again.
There are days when writing reviews feels like something of a chore. That’s not to say I don’t feel gratitude for the amazing music that is sent my way but, as with anything that you repeat on a regular basis, you can start to become numb to it. Then I come across an artist like ChiaraOscuro who reminds me why I do this in the first place. Albums such as Rancor: Succor are not part of the tawdry business element that has so infected music, but about the act of creation. You can feel, in every single track here, a piece of the artist invested in the music and, as a result, it touches you. We live in a world now, where people debate over AI music. I wonder. I am perfectly sure that AI, like Stock, Aitkin and Waterman, can easily identify an algorithm that will make people tap their feet, dance, or even sing along; but I don’t believe it will ever be able to make anyone feel (beyond, perhaps, the manipulative, lachrymose strings of a Hollywood death scene) in the way that an album such as Rancor: Succor can. It’s an album of deep emotional connection – between the artist and the art, and between the art and the listener – and it leaves you feeling somehow cleansed. Both labels like Nefarious Industries and artists like ChiaraOscuro are the reason this site exists, and I am deeply grateful to have been reminded of the fact. 9.5/10
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