Where - Wererat

YES!! I've been awaiting this for a long long time. For those who do not know anything about Where, Where is the project of Zairo - the legend who worked on both Olhon albums with Massimo from Bad Sector. Zairo is without a doubt one of the pioneers of modern day Dark Ambient experimentalism and extremism. His first album under the nom de plume of Where "The Creatures Of The Wind" was released nearly seven years ago, and became a huge cult hit.

"Wererat" is yet another classic and totally phenomenal concept album. This one is dedicated to Rats and Yersinia Pestis and wait for it : This recording features sounds recorded and captured exclusively in Rat infested Sewers. RESULT!

In fact, the vast theme of this release follows the legend of the Engebi Rats, which live on a small Archipelago North of the Marshall Islands. These Rats survived a Nuclear Holocaust during WWII and didn't suffer any lasting effects. Enough to send a chill down any spine.

Musically, are we to find anything as inspiring and chilling as the packaging offers? It takes less than one minute for my interests to reach peak. Insanely cold, terrifying and unexplainable screams and echoes inhabit the first track. You can tell that this was recorded in a Sewer immediately.

It actually feels like you are trapped down there in places - there is such a sick and detailed level of work put into this that I can only gasp with delight. The first track lasts five minutes, and I honestly feel like I've just been covered in Rats. Unclean as hell, and Scary on a level that no one can really comprehend without hearing it.

Zairo has to be awarded some recognition for a Lifetimes contribution to Ambience. This individual has gone diving into a deep, uncharted Sea Cavern to bring us exclusive sounds, and now has risked Health to record and study Rats in their natural habitat. So few people do soemthing like this.

"Rat's Bite" is the most fucked up seventeen seconds I've ever heard - it sounds like an infuriated Vermin has literally leaped at and struck the Victim. Horrific Squeals and Gasps. My hands are crawling.

It isn't far to call this Dark Ambient, as it extends and pushes the Boundaries so much further than it's peers. This is Voyeuristic, Deranged, and Relentless Psychotic Ambient Noise. I can't get enough.

Let me refer to the booklet for putting it into words better than I ever can. "Zairo is living among them. He is a disinfester, and he's hunting wererats in their world. Sewers, Cellars, Basements, Lofts, Pipes"...(the list goes on to name about eleven more...). ..."somewhere between crepescule and nightfall, far from the light, the penetrating sun and the flashing rays of sunlight."

And the clincher. Yes, here it comes. "This recording is dedicated to all the animals hated by humanity". Followed and closed with a quote from the legend that is Atrax Morgue.

So in retrospect, we have an album that not only pushes the sounds to a new level, but something that educates, intrigues, pushes all kinds of concept and originality to new heights, and at the same time fucks up the listener.

Is it good? What do YOU think? I'm off to go have a bath. I feel unclean. Nov 10 2006