Darvaz – “Failure Is Possible” – [Chambara Records]

Thurston Hunger   10/16/2014   A Library, CD

CDR from San Francisco duo, Dereck and Emily Donohue
(on Dereck’s Chambara imprint). Dense and dark
claustrophonic pieces, should work well as Halloween
creeps up on us. Speaking of which, their band name
translates as “the door to hell” Check out
www.youtube.com/watch?v=BOsBa7BXYHc for a look at
a 35-year gas-burning crater in Turkmenistan). Much
of the loops here are lava slow, Emily (nee Trixy
Grace) gives the heavier dronework more buoyancy
with disembodied vocals floating on #1. Male moanage
on #2, possibly with refracted violin! Sampled vox
intone the title “Neck Wood Rail” on #5, chittering
electrobirds made more sense on that to me. Kinda
Conet project from the underworld? #4 has a whistle
while you work almost happy start (I said *almost*)
later that gets trimmed to the opening trill, that
sample slows down becoming like a sad question.
Pitchwheel follies follow, it hypnotizes you over the
flames below. Many tracks bleed that deep, distorted
bass buzz burrowing. Bought and possibly conceived at
Amoeba Music..

-Thurston Hunger