Needlewire - Ratqueen

Around a year and a half ago, I performed an audio autopsy on brutalresonance.com/viewreview.php?id=1336'Ratking; the surprisingly well-captured concept album by ex- Dark Electro project needlewire.de/disco.php'n.e.e.d.[le].w.i.r.e..

Spiralling towards the Dark Ambient / IDM markets, Ratking marked a change in the sound of the project,shunning its distorted roots - reminding me rather subconsciously of discogs.com/Where-Wererat/release/818593'this cult 'classic'.

Two things have happened since then that I didn't expect - The signing of Needlewire to Shinto Records; and the sister album - 'Ratqueen'.

Still holding echoes of 'Pied Piper' cum Sewer King, Ratqueen aims to prove the age old adage - that women simply do everything better than their male counterparts.

"aqueduct opera" plays us in with a gentle and beautiful Glockenspiel (I think). It sounds like the introduction to a kid's lullaby, but I strongly expect this to catapult into nightmare fuel territory quickly. (There's a German child's story called "Struwwelpeter" which, if you're familiar with it, is far, far from delicate and gentle. I suspect more than a touch of this is to follow).


It's succeeded by "thoughts like gallows". Entering the cinematic soundscapes that are usually found within the darkest of Ambience, it builds into a rhythmic, minimal track that reminds me of Coil's more hypnotic moments. It's a safe bet to me that the majority of the audience will find a warm, reclusive embrace in this track - one for the reflective and unattached.

A little while later, track four "this wound is a wytch draws me in with it's deliberate occultic mis-spelling. It has slight hallmarks of GP-O, but reminds me very strongly of Brian Eno's youtube.com/watch?v=2wE3cjp8mQc'Bottomliners cult 'classic'., with it's pronounced bass.

Ratqueen takes five tracks to establish its foothold in the 'underground' - a fitting term, all things considered. It's immediately stronger and darker than Ratking. Nudges to the occultic, drawing from a strong range of influences give this a market price that in truth could probably be increased somewhat - if only people bought music more often...

Like all good music of this nature, the track titles captivate and pique my interest. "entr the cavrn"(sic) is out and out masterful in composition.

The remixes at the end do a lot for the overall aesthetic. Regular readers know that I seldom talk about remixes unless I am either familiar with the original artist, or totally unable to contain my opinions, critical or not. Regardless, I can't really move on from this album without at least another thumbs up to Gutzeit's integrity. Sounding like a bastard son of Coil, Psychic TV, Access to Arasaka and Brian Eno is a tough act, but oft-attempted.

Doing it well with a relatively new idea and a strong, dark theme is another thing, and with almost no exceptions, it's done very, very well.

Needlewire are on course to be the next rising star - I don't think there's going to be a pest control squad strong enough to get rid of the King and Queen - and for once, this is a family of Rats that I don't want to hear the last of.

Buy this. Apr 26 2013