Happy New Year #Feature Friday
So here we are, it’s 2025 and well well well.
#FeatureFriday on bluesky is a little different this first Friday of yhe year what with the holidays and illness and….
This Friday we have chosen one artist each. Florgoth has chosen Feralman’s “Allegories and Allegories Trancended” , I have chosen Chaos Doll’s “The Loving Embrace of Societal Collapse”. Foxy HxC Macfly’s pick is “Secret Rites of the Kilim Mosh” by Kilim Mosh while Aaron Smith has gone with Brian Tremblay’s The Neighbourhood: Songs & Stories of a Blue Collar Raising
Allegories and Allegories Trancended by Feralman
“Allegories“ is an enormously enjoyable album, mixing folk, rock, pop and orchestral music. Feralman managed to bring these styles together in a way that feels cohesive, yet varied.
Each song speaks about life and the need for positive changes in the listeners outlook and behaviour. While this could easily turn preachy and overly self-indulgent, Feralmans gentle singing, combined with the choices in instrumentation, give this a feeling that I can only describe as honest and heartfelt.
What ultimately sold me on this, however, has been the reworked version “Allegories Trancended“. Feralman invited eight other artists (John Serrano, Wendy Kay, Charlie Risso, Martin Preisler, Annika Jayne, Chenél No:1, John Wallace and Santosh Poudel) to sing the songs from the album in different languages.
The effect this change has, is profund. Everything feels hightened, larger than in the previous album. The call for unity and togetherness that was present in “Allegories“, is felt more clearly through the collaborative effort of these different aritsts. I’d go so far to say, it turned a great album into one that should not be missed out on!
The Loving Embrace of Societal Collapse by Chaos Doll
Right from the start with Track 1 – “Mindfuck” you know what you’re in for. The line, “This whole world is a Mindfuck Everything is a lie” sets out it’s stall. A raspy, snarling diatribe underpinned by industrial drums and dissonance that stays just on the side of melodic, somehow, until it dies in a flurry of static and garbled audio giving way to just a voice uttering the lines,
“Or just maybe it’s all true
I’m sure you have so much to say
But all that matters is what you do”
– Mindfuck
Track 2 – “Algorithm O.D.” Is the perfect response to the youtube generation. There’s not a lot more to say when the lyrics perfectly sum up a population enamored with being involved, at any cost. “And that’s the sound of the monkey king!”
“Like, Comment, Subscribe
Like, Comment, Subscribe
Engage with me
Like, Comment, Subscribe
Like, Comment, Subscribe
Validate me”
– Algorithm O.D.
As the album moves into “Tallow”, track 3 it starts to find a groove while keeping up it’s political intent. The break downs that sound like a sample from some unmade Italian zombie flick is perfectly designed. The glitchiness of the track leads to the beautiful, swooning chords of “Swansong” – the vocals become softer and more sympathetic. There’s a melancholy here, a resignation. It’s gorgeous but it sounds like it came at a cost.
“In dreams
Deconstructed plea
Pretty
Disfigured dreams”
– Find Beauty in Broken Things
“Find Beauty in Broken Things” is full of industrial rhythms countered by a distorted ring modulated? Vocal. There’s an eroticism to the delivery that has you hooked into the song’s premise. Had me in mind of the film Tetsuo. The fact that it makes way for the instrumental track, “A Better Place” is an excellent bit of sequencing.
Uplifting and pondering woth it’s high vocal samples, luscious sat on top of the thick digital FM sounding bass line. Layered with the bells and the sounds of a city? It’s stunning really.
“I’ll See You In Time” takes an echo from previous track, “A Better Place” and layers it with subtle sound design. Giving what should be the final track a washed out feel. Thankfully Chaos Dolll are not doen quite yet.
The album finishes with, “Find Beauty in Broken Things (Original Demo)” and it’s really quite fitting that it should end this way.
If you have the time then please listen.
Secret Rites of the Kilim Mosh – by @blurbfly.bsky.social and @xenomanes.bsky.social
If you dig electronic sounds like I do, you should give this album a shot. Its crushing drones, sharp and powerful drum machine-style percussions, use of various recordings, effects, and instruments (including trumpets, yes, trumpets) will definitely speak to you, I can guarantee it. There is something mystifying about the formula. At an intersection between noise, ambient, and techno, with a gritty, dark industrial feel to it, both harmonious and dissonant, it really shines in those 5-10+ minute tracks.
The Neighbourhood: Songs & Stories of a Blue Collar Raising by Brian Tremblay
Today I’m focusing on the music of @briantmusic.bsky.social A Canadian artist who stands on the border between storytelling rock and good country music, much like The Traveling Wilburys, Johnny Cash, and The Eagles.
Brain Tremblay’s album, “The Neighborhood” is a wonderful collection of reminiscences about his life in the form of songs. His lyrical skills made it so listening to his memories triggered some of my own long-forgotten memories, a marvelous feat of songwriting!
OK I know I’m late with this one, but it’s been a long day 😂 First #FeatureFriday of the year and we got to pick our own album here, so I’m picking @rubyrockatansky.bsky.social ‘s latest record!
I’m a HUGE fan of concept albums, and this one I know is personal to Ruby. It’s a great story that I think alot of people would dig. While I’m not big on progressive metal, but this album actually progresses both in story and tone!
I found it to also be groovier and have catchier riffs than your usual progressive metal album! I’m big on chonky riffs and this record has ALOT of good chonky riffs! I highly recommend you go check it out!! 🖤🤘
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