In my scientific research in the lab I work at, we use formaldehyde (and its derivatives) as a fixative and preservative agent, to freeze the state of tissue/cells, so those that we want to keep intact remain that way and do not get contaminated with foreign microscopic organisms.
This allows us to achieve an inert, unchanging environment, to preserve the original state we started with. In a way the music by Seconds in Formaldehyde follows the same features. It is stagnant, sluggish, torpid and seemingly unchanging; it dwells on and strives to maintain flow and texture, pattern and magic throughout the seven tracks on this album. However, this is more of an appearance than anything else, as there is development and change throughout each track.
Seconds in Formaldehyde is an ambient/drone project by Martin Fuhs from Germany and he is also the man behind the label releasing this album, Waterscape Records. He previous released three albums through other labels and used a guitar (and computer) to make the sound heard on these albums.
Martin has stated that this album for him is sort of a fresh start, being tired of his previous output, his approach and the way they sounded. This album is structured and with ties between the tracks, which happen to be shorter.
As Martin attests himself, this is the first release where he not only creates the sound using the guitar but also with electronics, field recordings and shortwave radio manipulations as well as using various self-built patches to feel his guitar output through. As I don’t know his past output I can say how much has changed from that period, but let me state that these ornaments add richness and compelling layers to the core of the work and create a volumetric atmosphere. The music indeed seems to envelop the listener, encapsulate him and transfer him to a vast sea of sounds that Martin creates. In fact, I find it amazing the sounds he seems to be pulling out of this guitar. It doesn’t sound like one a lot of the time.
At times “A Shiver In Red” sounds like a voyage through space, or at least a soundtrack to such a trip – the music is quite ethereal, although it can be somewhat harsh sounding at times – but then it morphs into something different and an alternate direction is taken as different effects and guitar sounds take over and shift the track into a new path.
As slow as the pace is, there is movement and transition from a texture and theme (if one can call it that) to a different one. This album is dynamic, not in pace, but in intensity and volume. This is a terrific feat that is not easily pulled of in this sort of music and lack of it usually leads to dullness. Add to that the electronic manipulations and you get a variety of sounds and emotions invoked by them throughout this release.
A Shiver In Red is a beautiful, chilling, eerie and haunting ambient listening experience with fascinating slowly shifting textures. Noise for some, special experience for me.
http://www.myspace.com/secondsinformaldehyde
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