Review: Studio-X vs Simon Carter – 'Frozen'

STUDIO-X VS SIMON CARTER
'Frozen'
ALFA MATRIX

Even though this collaboration recently released the full-on dance floor assault that is 'Breaking The Void', the time is right for a follow-up EP to keep those tunes on rotation. The album's opener 'Frozen' sees the already essential club hit get the remix treatment.

The hard techno of the title track gets a suitably bassy club mix that, while exceedingly appealing, doesn't do anything particularly for its potential to be played any more than the original already is. However, XP8's hard and dirty reworking of the title track fares a lot better with a more relentless take on the song. While reADJUST goes in new and more radical directions with new lyrics and an “electro-body-trance vibe”.

'The City' is the first of two original tracks on the EP and follows on nicely from the intelligent edm of the original album. While 'Shine' breaks out the analogue and channels the spirit of Daft Punk for this sweaty dance track. Two further remixes from the full-length album come in the form of the rather pedestrian and straight sounding version of 'Reasons' supplied by Cosmic Armchair, and the luscious chip tune of 'Particles Of Love' contributed by Eqavox.

It may sound like a bit of a mixed bag but the remixes from XP8, reADJUST and Eqavox are worth the money alone. And when you throw in a couple of great non-album tracks like 'Shine' and 'The City' and it begins to look like a very tempting purchase. These EPs can often be dismissed as something for the DJs more often than not, but if you were a fan of 'Breaking The Void', then you'll easily be able to justify adding 'Frozen' to your music collection.

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Review: Pittersplatter – 'Frozen: Reign Of The Warlock'

PITTERSPLATTER
'Frozen: Reign Of The Warlock'
JUGGERNAUT MUSIC GROUP

Oklahoma-based electro horror act Pittersplatter return with a remastered version of their 2013 album 'Frozen'. Rechristened 'Frozen: Reign Of The Warlock' the album has been expertly tweaked to bring the best out of the songs. It's louder and generally more up-to-date than the previous version. Ironing out those little elements that detracted from an otherwise strong offering.

It terms of the track list the songs remain unchanged in therms of their structures, but undoubtedly benefit from the reworked production. The band's dark, mid-tempo style of classic sounding electro-goth sounds colder and more sinister. Beat driven and uncomplicated, the album tips its hat to the likes of Mortiis, Front 242 and Spahn Ranch on catchy numbers such as 'The Dark', 'Frozen', 'The Devil Made Me Do It', 'Throwing Bones' and 'With Blackest Magick'.

The album does occasionally drift into more experimental waters such as on the afore mentioned 'With Blackest Magick, the choral 'Desolate' and the orchestral mix of the title track, which is an element to the band's sound that definitely needs to be explored further. Throw in an excellent remix of 'Frozen' by IIOIOIOII and this is a very appealing package.

'Frozen: Reign Of The Warlock' is an example of how to subtly but effectively rework an album to bring out the best in it. This version is a lot stronger and more self-assured than it's predecessor, and with songs like 'The Dark' as well as the original and IIOIOIOII versions of the title track, its club potential has significantly increased. This should provide and excellent platform from which the band can continue to grow.

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Review: Pittersplatter - 'Frozen'

PITTERSPLATTER
'Frozen'
MUTANT-E

The overwhelming urge is to compare Oklahoma based one-man-band Pittersplatter to 'The Smell Of Rain' era Mortiis. Indeed 'Frozen' is an ambient yet club-friendly electronic album and yes, multi-instrumentalist/vocalist Worm Splatter also looks like an extra from The Lord Of the Rings. But Pittersplatter is a very different beast. Whereas Mortiis' sound eventually found its way into industrial rock, Pitterplatter is very much grounded in the late 80s/early 90s electro-goth sound with nods to the likes of Skinny Puppy and Spahn Ranch.

'Frozen' is the second of a four-album story arc that began with 'The Dawn Of Carnage', and sticks fast to the band's elementary style established on the first album. Songs like 'The Dark', 'The Devil Made Me Do It', 'Glory' and 'The Waking' are mid-tempo, beat driven and uncomplicated songs that are catchy, performed very well and would be very easy to reproduce in a live setting. Occasionally there is a flourish of experimentalism, such as in the choral-driven centrepiece 'Desolate', but for the most part the songs stay well within their comfort zone.
In terms of production, the album has a very clean but very minimalistic mix. It sounds rough and old school which is inherently charming, but does make them sound a little dated in place. Which is a shame, as there are some strong songs here.

The project's monstrous imagery aside, the album is a charming display of the old school electro-goth sound and has a fair few club-friendly tracks in its modest running time. At just nine-tracks long the album doesn't outstay its welcome, and the similar pace of the songs doesn't get a chance to wear thin. However it is just missing that certain something that would see Pittersplatter evolve from an interesting oddity of the scene into one with serious clout.

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