From Cool Cleveland
Cleveland indie label Skean Dhu celebrates its 5th anniversary this year with the release of Requiem for Failed Suicides – a solo effort by Steven K. Smith, a member of Cleveland shoegazer band Mabou and the ambient-tribal multimedia act called Dolmen. Smith's solo project straddles the line between his tribal, ritualistic work with Dolmen and his more accessible post rock work he's done with Mabou. Quietly tumultuous, the morbidly titled disc's ten instrumental cuts are a sonic basilisk and really should accompany a futuristic Ridley Scott film. Perhaps if Scott ever decided to film Ender's Game. Ah, perchance to dream.
Requiem is stark, cinematic and shadowy, bordering on swirling goth at some points, and shares sonic flavors with the listener that recall, Opeth's Deliverance, Porcupine Tree leader Steven Wilson's Blackfield projects and Trent Reznor's headier, Enoesque productions (perhaps parts of The Fragile). The whole first half builds with inspired, machine-wrenching tension; cuts like "Summer Hymns," "You Destroy What I Love" and the tumultuous "The Death of Us All (Cleveland)" are intriguing. And while Requiem never exactly nails any of those reference points mentioned above, it certainly makes for an inspired spin. This is desolate, but essential, late night listening. Break out your favorite black clothing for this one.
Peter Chakerian (Managing Editor)