Friday, September 15, 2023

EP: Fire-Toolz - I will not use the body's eyes today. [2022]

Fire-Toolz is probably one of the first few artists reviewed on theneedledrop that I've decided to listen to because of the man himself. Sure, the titles and artwork intrigued me, but Fantano's review and rating of the album was what really pushed me over the fence of curiosity. I'm a fan of rock and electronic, but he praised it's experimentation and uniqueness for something more than just a blender brew of both.

It was definitely an interesting first listen, taking in the soundscapes as Fire-Toolz jumped from calming ambient soundscapes to colourful synths and a mix of processed cleans and distorted screams. You wouldn't be able to turn a corner on this tracklist without seeing some weird new sonic element pop up, whether it's saxophone passages, classic rock solos, glitchy sound effects or just the tasteful multitude of synths.

A record almost long enough to count as an album, they manage to squeeze in a good variety of offerings in just seven songs. Soda Lake With Game Genie, Vedic Software ~ Wet Interfacing and There Is Only One Suffering... The Suffering Of The Divine Circle Dance are more fully fleshed out experimental endeavours, while the rest are more focused on the ambient and atmospheric design. I'm not familiar with the ambient scene, so forgive me for what might be blasphemy, but it definitely reminds me of the kind of experimentation on Bring Me The Horizon's Music To Listen To and the ambient works on Loathe's The Things They Believe.

I can see how this EP and their music in general might come off as pretentious to some, with how chaotic and complicated it is without any real structure, but I think it's best enjoyed as a vibrant exploration of sound. There are some little moments that stand strong but the majority of the appeal of this record is how unique the soundscapes are, the kind of sounds being designed and how they play into each other at certain points. It's a fine album to sink into, but not the kind you'd listen to if you're gonna count the seconds.

Rating: 5/10

Tracklist:
1. Sophrosyne In The Mirror Of Simple Souls
2. Soda Lake With Game Genie
3. Vedic Software ~ Wet Interfacing
4. Air For Breakfast: She Is Safe & So Am I
5. A Moon In The Morning
6. Jhana + Bhakti Sphere
7. There Is Only One Suffering... The Suffering Of The Divine Circle Dance