blackmouth

jarboe : vocals........... john bergin + brett smith : music

new full length album on crowd control activities.

SOLD OUT [$13]

track listing:
....the conversion / silent
....blackmouth
....the black pulse grain
....risen
....the burn
....and I call myself hag
....inner alien
....new smother
....the conversion / relapse
....in a world of her own
....surrender for his heart
....seduce and destroy
....risen [bloodless remix]
....the conversion / cruel

review

:a tour de force of dark, mesmerizing creativity:
First, one notices the sonic pedigree: John Bergin (C17H19N03, Trust Obey,Tertium Non Data), Brett Smith (Caul, Trust Obey, Tertium Non Data), and Jarboe (ubiquitous-er, Swans, solo releases and a bunch of guest appearances). Then one remembers John's C17H19N03-1692/2092 release from early 1999, in which Brett had a hand in the 'sound design,' and Jarboe added her demonically delicious vocals to a couple of tracks. Blackmouth gathers the three formidable talents together for a revelatory, full-bodied expression of dark, mesmerizing creativity. The music is a concentrated extension of what John and Brett do best, highlighting John's vast, gray and crimson cinematic tapestries, and Brett's keen, introspective, spiritual excavations of the soul, all under a pristine, burnished production sheen.It is always beautiful, apprehensive, and powerfully evocative. And then there is Jarboe, the light amidst the shimmering, warped black mirror songs. But her light is one of shattered inhibitions, brutal truths and visceral poetic reflections. Everything is abandoned: fear and futility, sorrow and shame. When her voice coos like a child, alternating between mischievous and malevolent, and just as swiftly morphs into a rapacious spirit intent on vocal catharsis, the effect is enthralling. Often, she utilizes the flexibility within a single line, evidence that her creativity is tethered to nothing but the moment, the inspiration revealed-and captured--for all to enjoy! Lyrically, she melds grim, taut reality with stark, limitless fantasy. To hear her spoken word, candidly succinct appraisal of 'being connected' during the first verse of "Surrender For His Heart," (in which she recites the word orgasm as if it where a knife, at onceinspiring arousal and regret?), followed by the psychological escape fantasy of the second verse (including Harvey Keitel and a machete?), amidst a sultry, insistent undercurrent of clicking percussion and squeaking vocal accompaniment (she uses her voice in an abundance of unusual ways throughout), one is struck by how outrageous the contrasting halves are, and how well they fit together. Follow that with "Seduce And Destroy," which includes a barrage of metal guitars and a perversion of "Mary Had A Little Lamb" during the chorus-amazing! The variety of vocal approaches during "The Black Pulse Grain" can only be viewed as enlightening-who else would have the creative impetus to design a song with so many peeking around the corner vocal shifts? But what am I saying? Jarboe does this throughout this impressive disc! Blackmouth is the perfect marriage of creativity, execution, and passion. About ten notches above wonderful. [JC Smith/Outburn]

jarboe [swans, jarboe]
brett smith [caul, trust obey]
john bergin [trust obey, c17h19n03]
crowd control activities - label web site