Be prepared to be afraid...very afraid. The debut release from Tarantula Hawk is a dark, ominous journey through your worst nightmare, and probably the creepiest, most unique recording since Pink Floyd's Ummagumma or Tangerine Dream's Zeit. All instrumental, the CD is one long thirty eight minute piece that ebbs and flows, quakes and squirms better than anything else of its kind in recent memory.
For the CD, the band is basically a drummer, keyboard player (who also doubles on guitar) and two bass players, one of whom has recently left the band. The piece features plenty of bizarro sound effects and synth noodling, augmented by booming, distorted bass leads and maniacal drums. Imagine "Set the Control for the Heart of the Sun" on steroids with ultra-heavy bass and you get an idea of what this is all about. At times the music gets real spacey and dissonant by using odd keyboard effects and echo, hence the Tangerine Dream comparison. The band does a great job using feedback, delay, and volume to maximum effect, making this an exciting listen, although one that you wouldn't want to experience in the dark.
Although not a perfect recording, I think these guys are on to something, as no one else is really doing this sort of music today. For a dark, nightmarish journey into the unknown, seek this out.
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