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On the Radar: Viridiana

Dutch dronely experimentalists Viridiana make their first offering to the gods of musical inactivity with the ultra-malevolent IV (free download link through the band’s MySpace). Yes, despite the numerically misleading title, it is the duo’s first outing, though with two tracks as oppressive as these, there might as well be four of them. If the two-two connection seems purposeful, in all likelihood, it is. Calling themselves Alpha and Omega, the individual members of Viridiana present “Deimos” and “Phobos” (the two moons of Mars) on IV, evoking dense soundscapes in each that are unwavering in their force. Turn up “Phobos” and you’ll feel like someone’s pressing on the side of your head.

There is some vocalizing on “Phobos,” bass rumbling and samples that spring up during the 21:41 runtime (both tracks circle the 20-minute mark), but “Deimos” is more droning the whole way through. Both are nasty, however, and even without being “heavy” in the sense of loud guitar and crashing drums, Viridiana create a breathless ambience with the echoing hand percussion of “Deimos” that finds payoff in the final, less sedentary moments of “Phobos.” But seriously, folks — drone.

Sometimes I wonder what would happen if all these drone acts got together and formed one big supergroup: Monsters of Drone, or perhaps a more apt name would be Earth 2. Whatever they called themselves, it would be interesting to hear what a bunch of droners came out with when they all had to be in the same room with each other. I’m sure I’d review it.

Until that happens (never), Viridiana‘s ruthless, pitiless sonic expanse will have to serve as cold comfort. IV isn’t reinventing the genre, but the low-end focus and subtle progression of “Phobos” do put it in line with what Om might have been had it come from the minds of SunnO))), and I can think of at least three people off the top of my head who’d be interested in experiencing such a thing. For them, Viridiana‘s on the radar.

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One Response to “On the Radar: Viridiana”

  1. Indrayudh says:

    Thanks for the heads up

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