reviews

Sideline - Belgium - 1996

The British pioneers strike back and add another album to their huge discography. ATTRITION is one of the few electronic bands that has managed to avoid it's curse through the eighties and nineties without ever losing authenticity, i would even dare to say "spontaneity"!
Release after release, the genius Martin Bowes brings his sound a bit further. He deepens his search for the perfect sound and probes into the numerous unexplored sonic landscapes to create something new with no reference to the various trends he went through with time.
On this 3 arms and a dead cert, he gives a twist to the taste of dark techno (as they would call it in Germany) on the latest material by re-inforcing his marriage between digital and analog ingredients, shy guitars and beautiful violins. Franck Dematteis' violin parts give a totally different dimension to the electronica, plunging them into a sort of semi-classical semi-theatrical atmosphere (Predicament?, 3 arms and a dead cert, or Prelude).
The instrument perfectly suits the convincing male and female vocal contrasts. Julia Wallers' voice most often underlines the dramatic side of the songs, while Martin sounds cold and strong.
The lyrics are once again off the beaten track, adding another interesting feature to this rather varied album. Although globally it sounds sombre and mid-paced, there are also rhythmic songs with effective bass sequences (Acid Tongue or Demi-God). The best tracks in my opinion are White men talk, Acid Tongue or Demi God.
Attrition lead us into a new world, their own world, a world where they deserve to climb higher, a world i strongly advise you to enter at least once in your short life. Competently accomplished and perfectly mastered from the first second to the last.

Sonic Boom. USA. 1996

Attrition return with more of their masterful darkwave material that they are well-known and respected for.
This time however, Martin has placed more emphasis on integrated real instruments into his electronic material which definitely gives the material a richer flavor. Julia's angelic vocals are still present as well and, as usual, they never fail to send my body into shivers.
While Martin has almost always included classical elements to many of his songs, tracks like Prelude and 3 Arms... entirely cut out the dance element, leaving pure classical pieces that are both beautiful and stunning.
The song that caught my attention the most was Predicament? This song somehow manages to come across as the complete soundtrack to a play within a four minute span, due to the song's intensity and the varied mood swings throughout.
Another bonus to this CD (for the first 500 copies) was the inclusion of another disc, the Electronica Sessions, which contains such classics as My Friend is Golden and Fusilade (now up to version VI with this version) from a live show they did in the UK in 1994 and remixed for this CD.

Liar Society. USA 2008

3 Arms and a Dead Cert comes from my favorite era of Attrition's musical output.  After the sounds of a radio tuning in to something uncanny (something wicked this way comes!), Attrition lays out a perfect trifecta of electro-Goth; "White Men Talk," "Acid Tongue," and "Cosmetic Citizen" are monumental tracks of Martin Bowes 's low, semi-whispered vocals, Julia Niblock 's operatic shriek, driving beats, inventive electronics, and eerie violin.  There is a reason that these three tracks are considered classics in Attrition's catalog, and hearing them back-to-back is simply mind-blowing.  

Things open up into different spaces after the first half of the album.  "The Second Hand" takes the prior formula and makes it more experimental and a good deal darker.  It's all into the shadows from there on out: "Predicament?" is a Coil -esque slice of threatening ambiance, "Red Eye" burbles with subliminal life, and the title track puts a unique spin on the idea of neo-classicism.  Taken together, the album is a certifiable darkwave classic.  And since it has recently been re-issued on the Two Gods imprint, you've got no excuse not to have this in your collection.