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Attrition
The Eternity LP

Two Gods

Posted: Tuesday, April 01, 2008
By: Matthew Johnson
Assistant Editor

Combining the original Eternity EP with the out of print Kissing a Virtual Angel CD, this reissue from Attrition founder Martin Bowes' own Two Gods label looks at Attrition's classical side from several perspectives. Particularly interesting are the first four tracks, which feature remixes from Etude, itself a collection of classic Attrition songs rearranged within the classical mode. "Feel the Backlash" and "At the Fiftieth Gate," then, started their lives as early darkwave tracks, then were reworked as moody chamber music pieces, and now find new life yet again, with the violin and viola of Franck Dematteis underscored by subtle electronic bass lines. More overtly electronic are "I Am (Eternity)," which sets the throaty operatic vocals of frequent Attrition collaborator Julia Waller to a moody trip-hop beat, and "Cold Genius," an interpretation of a song by Purcell featuring Waller's staccato soprano bouncing over a throbbing techno pulse. The second part of this CD, originally released as Kissing a Virtual Angel on Italy's Ars Benevola Mater label, is more purely classical, starting off with a new version of "Prelude," the gorgeous violin piece originally used as the introduction to the 3 Arms and a Dead Cert album. "A Virtual Angel" begins with creaking ambience before Dematteis' strings take on a more romantic character, while "Metamorphosis," true to its name, sees Bowes manipulating the bowed strings with hints of reverb and digital delay. "'Illuminati'" is all gorgeous layered harmony, and "L'echange" brings back the synths with a hint of delicate pads resting underneath the staccato viola. Bowes himself is as talented a producer as he is a songwriter, and that really stands out here; content to bow out of the spotlight, he's behind the scenes here, working to make sure his collaborators' talents are presented in the best light possible. The result is a beautifully affecting collection of neo-classical pieces that bear little resemblance to their original versions. While a familiarity with Attrition's catalog makes this an especially fascinating foray for long-time fans, anyone with an ear for chamber music will find something to appreciate here.