So, this is what happens when John Carpenter is molested by Red Sparowes at a post-rock convention. Liquid Crystal is the new EP from Pittsburgh-based duo Zombi. It follows on from last year’s 2020 and sees the band continue to chase the sky with their densely layered soundscapes.
The EP opens with the cyclical beauty of Mangler, a mid-paced piece built around a simple synth sequence from Steve Moore (synth / bass). Superficially straightforward, he slowly builds layer upon layer of shimmering noise as drummer Anthony Paterra holds down a woozy beat. It’s an enthralling start to an EP that feels like the soundtrack to some unseen movie, a feeling further reinforced by the enigmatic Chant. A darker, harder piece, it has a sinister presence underpinned by Steve’s grinding bass line, and it injects a sense of tension into proceedings. The title track is similarly short and eerie, recalling Ennio Morricone’s throbbing score to The Thing, before adding a touch of Vangelis as the piece proceeds. It does fade out a touch abruptly, which is a shame as it detracts from the steadily building atmosphere to a slight degree. However, as it transpires, these pieces are just a prelude for the monstrous ebb and flow of Turning Points, an eleven-minute epic that draws on a mix of Pink Floyd (circa Welcome To the Machine), Red Sparowes and Neurosis over the course of its run time. A dark, trippy piece of music, it follows the Swans’ approach of repeat and augment, with each passage becoming more intense as it progresses to its inevitable and monumental conclusion. The EP comes to an end with the lengthy Black Forest, which belies its title and proves to be a sun-dappled piece underpinned by a fast-paced arpeggio. Reminsicent of the instrumental excursions in which Pink Floyd engaged around the time of Momentary Lapse Of Reason, it provides a strangely upbeat finale to an EP that takes the listener on a filmic journey in just thirty short minutes.
Post rock is something of a crowded genre but, with an unusual line up, Zombi incorporate their influences into something that is satisfyingly different. With each track drawing the listener upon a mini voyage of discovery, Liquid Crystal is another impressive entry in the band’s rapidly growing catalogue. 9/10
