Released almost simultaneously with The Great Rock 'n' Roll Swindle, a nasty and occasionally downright brutal record for Shitkatapult, Anti -- released on Chicago's Hefty -- shows the more (relatively) contemplative side of T. Raumschmiere's productions. However, he always has a knack for ugly, corrosive textures -- mechanized handclaps, for instance, are likely to sound like two blocks of cinder being smacked together. And, rather than employ the kind of vapor smears resorted to by so many of his brethren, he'd rather use ...
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Released almost simultaneously with The Great Rock 'n' Roll Swindle, a nasty and occasionally downright brutal record for Shitkatapult, Anti -- released on Chicago's Hefty -- shows the more (relatively) contemplative side of T. Raumschmiere's productions. However, he always has a knack for ugly, corrosive textures -- mechanized handclaps, for instance, are likely to sound like two blocks of cinder being smacked together. And, rather than employ the kind of vapor smears resorted to by so many of his brethren, he'd rather use elements that fray nerves rather than soothe them, like the prickly, rustling mites that crawl throughout "Zero." Only on "Erloesung Durch Strom" does he fail to bring the abrasion, but it's one of the creepiest fusions of minimal house and dark ambient yet. All the unpleasant qualities of the tracks obscure the fact that Raumschmiere's productions are just as neatly arranged as anyone else's. The eerie, slightly squealing menace that plays off into the distance in "Dual Kanal" looms around with a tightly circular gait and, more importantly, nearly every track has a rhythm that's easy to latch onto. Not short on its own special personality, Anti is a remarkably accomplished, frequently frightening, occasionally thrilling album. ~ Andy Kellman, Rovi
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