Somewhere In Europe – “Gestures” – [World Serpent Dist.]

ophelia necro   3/18/2009   A Library, CD

Formed from the ashes of a band called Basic Essentials in 1983, Somewhere In Europe is Andrea James and David Tiffen with contributions from Douglas P and Gabrielle Quinn. The tracks on this release were recorded between 1983 and 1991 and compiled in 92. The band released 4 casstettes on their own These Silences label. There is quite a variety of material including windy drones and scared squeakings, church bells, tinny drum machine, hesitant glockenspiel and flamenco or the gloomy guitar strumming and buried vocals. Soundscapes drawing on collage and post-industrial atmospherics. Random selections that both illustrate their diversity of content and more cohesive styling: it seems that Somewhere In Europe’s recordings share a?? fondness for the minor key that creates a disquieting feeling. There is a similarity with Death In June (with whom they have collaborated), although Somewhere In Europe’s use of collage and juxtaposition sets them apart. No language.

Dark and moody ambient instrumentals?? (with the occasional superimposition) on tracks; 2, 4, 8, 11, 13, 15, 17 & 18. Dancey numbers (3), groovey synthpunk (5) and the standout harsher noise track (12). There is a lot of mixing/superimpositions going on, for example track 2 had a German child singing silent night, 16 samples “London Bridges”and the track “Black Lodge” samples a character from David Lynch’s Twin Peaks.