Thermidor

"1929" (Album, 2007) !dso Recommended!

Released in a hand-numbered limited edition slim DVD case of just 500 which includes a newspaper that provides teasing snippests of background information on the main character in this (fundamentally) instrumental soundscape, Thermidor's darkly atmospheric 1929 paints a troubled picture of an alternative, steampunk version of the early part of the 20th Century.

Thermidor (a solo project of Portuguese multi-media artist J'') has crafted the kind of album that probably sounds a lot easier to create than it is to achieve. And that's the word. For 1929 is undoubtedly a real achievement. That rare success, a collective work of art and a terrific suite of compositions in their own right that's dark, disturbing and thoroughly addictive.

Parts of the fourteen minute Ecclesiastes and the nine-and-a-half minute apiece tracks Oceanus and Plenum Aquae appear to have, let's call it 'taken inspiration' from Howard Shore's score for Cronenberg's Videodrome. Indeed, this entire album could quite easily be an alternative soundtrack to that film and wouldn't harm the film's seminal status in any way. I would dearly love to hear this performed live. I will pray that I should be so lucky. 8/10

Rob Dyer (December 2012)