Call me shortsighted but the majority of experimental music doesn’t really do it for me. Bristol’s Torn are a fine example of why not. Don’t get me wrong, this isn’t going to turn into a big rant about disliking a certain genre of music. I’m willing to give anything a chance so long as it’s actually good. To dispatch the “as it is” early on, this 3-piece can definitely play their instruments and play them well, that’s not the complaint here, they appear very competent musicians and have at least got the right idea.
Granted, experimental music isn’t meant to be all poppy and easily accessible, but I believe there should at least be something fresh or something to endear the band to new listeners. We can’t even excuse them based on being a new band, as ‘Disturbance in the Equilibrium’ is their follow-up to 2004’s ‘I Can’t Believe It’s Not Buddha!’ So, firmly established as they are, they’ve made one of the least interesting 48 minutes’ worth of music I think I’ve ever heard. They’re limited to what they can do as a 3-piece, but I was expecting a little more than what has materialised.
The dynamic is set very quickly, chimey strummed chords over sometimes irritatingly loud bass lines, which only serve to bore very quickly. The guy playing them must want to brain himself by the end as most of the bass lines seem to revolve around the same notes and basic pattern. They fail to really ever break out of this pattern and it’s unfortunate, but when the whole thing is over it’s almost relieving. There’s a lack of overall lack of originality, it’s really hard to digest this album at all.
At this point I’d like to say “but wait...” although that would pretty much end the review as there’s no ‘but’ in sight. ‘Disturbance in the Equilibrium’ really isn’t a great idea. To close on a ridiculously poor line, they should really fix that disturbance before they release anything!
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Torn - Disturbance in the Equilibrium
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