RATTUS and the SCIENTIFIC METHOD ORCHESTRA
"Kind of Hell" EP (Original 052 2007)
"Solar Chronicles" EP (Original 035 2007)
From Aural Innovations #38 (Jan 2008)
I guess I could best describe this outfit as somber down-key "instrumental
post-space-rock", ala Mogwai, Godspeed!, Kinski, Sh'Mantra and the like,
with dominant bass-lines and dirge-like drums, though with far less emphasis
on wall-of-noise guitar stylings and long build-ups, while heavier on clean
keyboards lines.
The "Kind of Hell" EP has a couple strong tunes, with added accordion
and a smattering of oddly treated fx accompanying the melodies, a heavy riff
bursting forth with swirly looped operatic-chant.
The "Chronicles" EP sports the epic "Solar Energy", beginning
with cosmic choral synth-chant fading in and out of a simple, pleasant keyboard
melody, a grandiose drum march and an eerie insertion of the chorus near the
end. "10 Light Years" is another very pretty tune with the spaced-out
echoey keys, synth-piano tinkling., riffs...ends far too early and under-developed
at just a couple minutes, though. There are some bland-ish tracks here, too.
All in all, nothing really new, but some strong tracks/moments.
Check the band's web site at: http://www.rattus.re-drum.net/contacts.htm
Reviewed by Chuck Rosenberg