Review: Caustic – 'Stimulation'

CAUSTIC
'Stimulation'
UNDUSTRIAL RECORDS

Following on from the Coil-inducing 'The Coital Staircase' comes a surprise EP from Matt Fanale in the form of 'Stimulation'. With critically acclaimed albums such as 'The Golden Vagina Of Fame And Profit', 'The Man Who Couldn't Stop' and 'Industrial Music' under his belt it would forgivable if Fanale were to drop a few tracks that repeated previous successes. But instead we get a continuation from the more minimal and experimental sounds of the last single that takes what we thought Caustic was and once again moulds it into something new.

Featuring a more experimental and ambient textures, with a big does of old school minimal techno and ebm, but with a rhythmically pleasing core, the EP blends elements of Fanale's Jizzcore origins with analogue sounds (both melodic and dissonant) for thoughtful yet strangely infectious outing.

Tracks such as 'Mask Of A Face (Stoma v.0)', and 'Induction' feel the most experimental with their distorted dance beats surrounded my beeps and drones. While the likes of 'Buzzkill', 'Geistfick', and 'A.D.I.D.A.S' bring in the techno and ebm flavours with their bass and melodies powering the tracks forward.

The production is excellent. It's tempting to leave “experimental” influenced recordings as rough and ready as possible... because underground and low-fi etc. But Fanale gives these tracks the spit and polish they deserve, enhancing all of the elements within and letting them shine through whether melodic or dissonant.

This might be another curve-ball from Fanale, but there is no denying he is an artist of substance who seems to be able to assimilate different styles and genres with ease and still produce something that can only be described as Caustic. It remains to be seen as to whether this is a permanent stylistic direction, but in the here and now, 'Stimulation' is a great EP and worth your time.  

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