Germany's Barst (real life's Bart Desmet) has recently released his first full length debut which follows the three-way collaboration album with Treha Sektori and RM 74 that he was a part of, and also the several cassette releases.
The Western Lands refers to and uses William S. Burroughs' famous cut-up technique adjusted to the artist's temperament, with the numerous layers of cut-up sounds applied upon one another to create this massive experimental sound of Barst, a fitting equivalent of which is the album's cover art, created by Niels Verwijk.
The album includes also the contributions of guest musicians Mike Armine (Rosetta), Dehn Sora (Treha Sektori, Sembler Deah), Karen Willems (Inwolves), Mathieu Mathlovsky (Mathlovsky), Nicolas Van Meirhaeghe (Empusae, Onus), An-Sofie De Meyer (FÄR), Tokyo Oyo and Herr Man and it was recorded, mixed and mastered by Tim De Gieter at Much Luv Studio.
The term "genre-bending" sort of underestimates The Western Lands which right from the start blends elements of ambient, drone and electronic soundscapes with metal and shoegaze, and it does it proficiently and effectively, subjecting the listener to the artist's new vision of the old avant garde technique while destroying the normalcy of the song structures.
Listen below...
ZR