Unter Null- Moving On

Artist: Unter Null

CD Title- Moving On

Label: Alfa-Matrix

Reviewer: Robert Eaton

Date: 7-13-10

Unter Null, that is, Ms. Erica Dunham, returns with her second full-length release for Alpha-Matrix. Since the last album Dunham also released two E.P.’s and the side-project Stray album in 2008. If “Abuse by Proxy” appealed to the listener, “Moving On” is more diverse an album--some tracks fall closer to the Stray album than Unter Null’s previous release, “The Failure Epiphany.” “Moving On” has twelve tracks, including a cover of Mercy Street, which has been seen in Unter Null’s live shows previously, and 3 remixes. The album opens with the instrumental track “Journey to Descent”. It is an atmospheric electro track, something that Unter Null has always done well. In the title track, which opens with an ethereal, melodic piano, the beat rather abruptly jumps mid-song, the transitions are a little bit jarring at first listen. “Broken Heat Cliché” returns back to the project’s harsher roots. “Godless” sounds much more like the tracks on “Abuse by Proxy.” “Visceral, Venom of My Being” is another harsh, aggressive track with a fast bpm, a return to form. “Hypocrite and Contradicted” blend both harsh and melodic elements, and the result is one of the best songs on the album. The remixes at the end of the album are strong takes on the songs, especially the tormentor remix of “I Can’t Be the One” and the hard dance mix of “Godless”. Ultimately, the album shows some of the diversity that Unter Null has gained as a project. Melodic elements have always been a part of an Unter Null album, in “Moving On” they are more pronounced than earlier. There are still enough harsh songs to do honor to the project’s noise roots. In some of the songs, the disparate elements which make up Unter Null’s sound results in great songs.

Check out the songs: www.myspace.com/unternull