Portuguese artist Ricardo Remedio has created a combination of techno-industrial and synth-based atmospheres here on what is his debut album, with a much different title than what the official Facebook description offered. Natureza Morta literally translates to "Dead Nature" and although the gist of the performance is quite dim, there are some rather lighthearted nodes as well. We begin with the deep, slightly urban feel of “Banquete” which has a small section entwined within it that reminds me a little of the music in Xavier's lab for the original X-Men Genesis/Mega Drive game. Yeah, my musical cues go back that deep, folks. So am I imagining X-Men characters walking through misty urban areas at night? Well, kind of. “Ossos” feels like a filmscore that has been largely smothered by dub fuzz. It definitely makes me think of a Cyberpunk noir and could be used in a film (or game) of that sort. “Garça” offers one light node of etherealism, as it gently glides outwards towards “Caça” (which I believe is the word for feces) even though this wave influenced track is certainly not something I would consider to be of that nature. What we've got is a mixing of metallic industrial with light winds of synth and slight thumps that bring a bit more of that urban vibe to the piece. They seem to almost choke the whispering synth, yet also create a feeling of horror that I wouldn't have expected, later on in the recording.
“Suor Noturno” seems to be a bit more colorful, as it mixes rusty industrial in rather nicely with what sounds like a colorful jungle-influenced sort of sound that almost reminds me of a timpani, except a timpani from the planet Venus or suchlike.
The last track I want to discuss on this album is “Vigília” which actually sounds like it has a tinge of metal flowing through it. There are some odd shouts, as well as what sounds like a dissonant and windy guitar being utilized. This is the only time a listener will hear a performance like this on the disc, which is a bit unfortunate, as it sounds like an unnecessary one-off. Regardless of this, you're getting a rather strong mix of industrial and electronic music that seems deeply invested in what I might consider a Deus Ex friendly world, albeit with touches of crystalline synth that help to buff out some of the rougher edges. There's nothing really natural here and the cover itself is even misleading. I feel that it would have been better if they had depicted a cyberpunk scene, perhaps architecture of futuristic buildings. The cover simply doesn't illustrate the music, but the music itself is strong enough that it doesn't need to be defined by the cover. Definitely give it a listen if you're into these sorts of electronic approaches. Natureza Morta is a rather strong one in the genre.
(8 Tracks, 50:00)
8/10
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