Post-rock may still be a thing, but circa 2008 it was ubiquitous: every third band I saw aspired to be the next Explosions in the Sky. It was cool for about five minutes, but pretty swiftly became a drag. Somehow, despite not being remotely post-rock, worriedbaoutsatan emerged from that scene, making music that amalgamated ambient, post-rock and glitchtronica.
After a brace of cracking EPs and a debut album that was groundbreaking for 2009, they seemed to disappear from the face of the planet (although close observers will know they worked under the guise of Ghosting Season for a time). Last year’s ‘I’m Not’ single release hinted at something of a return, despite being music that had simply lain in the vaults for some time.
‘Even Temper’ marks the return of worriedaboutsatan proper. The eight tracks effectively pick up where they left off, and that’s actually a welcome relief. It also sees them evolve and develop the sound set in their previous works.
Long, slow, sweeping drones and thunderous rumbles provide the backdrop to portentous piano. The beats are solid, but backed off and remain at a distance while ethereal monastic voices swell and rise upwards on ‘Sleep of the Foolish’, with the effect of creating a deep atmosphere that resonates with a spiritual profundity as ancient and modern come together.
The religious connotations carry through the semi-abstract ‘Church of Red’ and ‘MV Joyita’, which features Morgan Visconti on vocals. This would be remarkable in itself, given the general absence of vocals in worriedaboutsatan’s output, but Morgan is the son of legendary producer Tony Visconti. Here, the result is a smooth, soulful track reminiscent of 90s Depeche Mode – very much a good thing, and it works well.
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It’s back to echo-drenched samples and dark atmospherics before the looping, percussion-led ‘Jaki’ provides the heaviest track of the album, its stuttering sound and clattering beats reminiscent of Test Department. It’s perhaps the most direct track they’ve produced in their career to date.
The closer, ‘All Safe, All Well’ returns to the haunting ambient sonic sculptures that are their trademark, an aural cloud that drifts into the distance and takes the listener with it.
If there had been any concern that a return after so long away would have seen the duo left in time while music had moved on, ‘Even Temper’ effortlessly puts paid to them. It still has all of the defining elements that make worriedaboutsatan, but they’ve evolved. ‘Even Temper’ is their most intriguing, assured, and dynamic work to date.
worriedaboutsatan Online
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