Published by Davide Pappalardo on June 4, 2018
Tārā In Tibet is a newborn project by an Italian anonymous artist, an experimental outfit delivering esoteric vibes, electro/industrial elements and dark ambiances. Tārā´s Freak Out Paranoia is the first effort by the artist, an eight-track cassette published by Italian indipendent label Last Europa Kiss. Here you will find abrasive sounds, pounding rhythms and punishing retro-electronics, as well as some wave elements and minimal cuts. The result is an “alien” sound in which the minimalism of 70’s experiments meets the modern approach toward underground electronic music.
Lilith’s apple is the first track we encounter, starting as a solemn dark ambient piece with distant vocals and ghostly atmospheres. Then, crunching and syncopated rhythms are added, developing a sharp structure made of obsessive compulsions and grave soundscapes. And bizarre sci-fi elements have their say in the mutant songwriting. A meeting of different sonic world which perfectly defines the work we are going to review. Drifted is an even more disorienting affair, a hard-hitting march with distorted basslines, looping snares, EBM structures and lo-fi sounds. An almost militaristic atmosphere dominates the number, engaging the listener with its hypnotizing mantra and distant, heavily distorted vocals.
Freak dance is a rhythmic episode reminding us of early Dive and Klinik‘s experiments, a minimalistic track focused on drum patterns and strong beats, underlined by samples and loops. A mechanic dance for machines, fusing electro elements and bass sounds. Versus me dwells even deeper in the world of retro electronics, by giving us a synth pastiche made of minimalwave movements and crooning vocals, once again recalling Dirk Ivens and his dry style. A malevolent but enthralling atmosphere is the focus of the track, a short cut which works as a bridge between tracks.
Bondage is an electro-industrial episode with obsessive rhythms and retrowave lines, a robotic affair completed by sharp basslines and filtered vocals.The result is an acid take on the genre full of lysergic mantras and sci-fi moments. Smashin .it is a full-front attack inspired by 80’s electro/EBM, a throbbing number in uptempo and engaging looping sounds, while Lost in temples returns to minimal territories thanks to shrilling effects and techno movements, keeping a brooding and dark atmosphere. Masturbazione is the last track, and once again minimal lines, sharp sounds and dry rhythms are the main themes of an episode with some enthralling melodies. A melancholic vibe dominates the episode fulfilling the terse atmopshere.
Italian underground scene is showing a growing interest in the modern take on minimal electronics and proto-EBM/electro-industrial sounds, and Tārā In Tibet is a welcome new name in the field of the genre. His own sonic word has a distinctive nature, while for sure referring to some topic influences coming from the 80’s and 90’s and using some experimental structures akin to 70’s electronics. Strong rhythms, grim and lysergic atmospheres, are the main elements used in the work, as well as the mixing of futuristic electronics and retro sounds. The past and the present, the esoteric and the sci-fi, are fused together and elaborated as a parallel reality made music: take your ticket for this ride, you won’t be disappointed.
Label: Last Europa Kiss
Rating: 7,5