Disharmony- Cloned: Other Side of Evolution

ARTIST: Disharmony

ALBUM: Cloned: Other Side of Evolution

LABEL: Tympanik Audio

REVIEWER: Matthew J.

DATE: 12-2-08

Slovakian duo Disharmony is cousin to the EBM scene without actually being part of it, and there's no better proof than this collection of their remix work for other artists. Their treatments of songs by acts like Deadjump, Grandchaos, and Empty aren't about dance floor aggression, but rather a brooding atmosphere that's full of dread at times, but just as often coldly beautiful. Their interpretation of "Mutant X" by Grandchaos takes the cold house-influenced industrial of the original and slows it down to an apocalyptic march; with their mix of Deadjump's "Immortal," the only clue to the terror EBM of the original is the distorted rasp of the vocals, now set to understated downtempo electronics. Australian act Empty takes a similar approach to Disharmony with their original work, focusing at least as much on texture as on tempo, so their song "Alone" is a natural fit, and Disharmony's take is actually a bit less dark than the original, lonely but peaceful, as is their remix of Tabor Radosti's "Synove Svetla," which uses slowed-down muffled vocals and crystalline pianos to create a sense of contemplation emerging from muddled thought patterns. To give a broader view on Disharmony's first release in North America, this CD also features two exclusive songs, both of which fit seamlessly in with the overall mood of the remix tracks. "Suspection" is an unexpectedly pleasant chill-out track, like a more industrialized version of something Orbital might release, though certainly less bubbly; the occasional sampled scream acts as a reminder that this is music meant to disturb, not to soothe. "Nautilus" is likewise lush but ominous, hinting at the grimmer side of existence rather than bludgeoning you with it. It's that kind of subtlety that makes this release so exceptional throughout; Disharmony have that rare ability to unsettle without sacrificing any sense of accessibility or harmony. Now that Tympanik Audio has introduced them to North America, we can only hope that more of their original work will find its way here as well.

Check out Disharmony's website at disharmony.aliens.sk.