Review Summary: “My country Serbia looks very close to Hiroshima”. Still as menacing as you’d expect, the gradual climb through the first half the album is a bit surprise even if it differs from the second half.
Mr. Funk how do you find the time to belt out so many albums and countless number of EPs in a little then a decade? I find it truly remarkable. I suppose that it’s true if you love your craft you won’t mind the amount of time you put into it. I’ll just say the aptly named
printf("shiver in eternal darkness/n"); (it does have a cold draw to it ) is Aaron Funk’s 5th studio album since entering the breakcore genre less than 2 years from the time of its release. Quite astonishing considering the consistency he exhibits in every album.
printf("shiver in eternal darkness/n"); should come to no surprise as it is just as solid as his earlier works, but unlike the others it wasn’t self-released or accompanied with another artist. So, with the money backing the endeavor does Venetian Snares or should I say Aaron Funk produce?
The low bass movements and ever present drones that accompany the breaking beats throughout this album are extremely well placed and paced for that matter. Not only does it not keep the listener on a hyperactive fix, but it just feels correct in its approach. Understandably breakcore enthusiasts may see it differently because the first few tracks are slower to progress than one would expect. There’s a funny thing about this album – the suddle movie samples scattered across the album, most visibly on “Cruel World”. Understandably “Cruel World” doesn’t really pick up until the screams intrude on the drum breaks making it more instinctive and less dull. As I said the breakcore enthusiasts may leave this album disappointed for the one fact it doesn’t start quickly on every track, but gradually envelopes a sense of established identity through every song.
Although the gradual upheaval of every track may seem interesting, it really isn’t in some places. After the fantastic “Cruel World” a step back is taken with “Suasive Chess Strategy”. The track really doesn’t get you involved until the end credits of the electronic harmony that is brought in with the drum breaks, too bad because if it was introduced earlier instead of the very end I’m sure it would have been stronger. These problems are scattered throughout
printf("shiver in eternal darkness/n");.Thankfully to get the listener’s blood pumping Funk creates a hyperactive, quick-starting, thriving breakcore track immediately after called “Aqap”.
printf("shiver in eternal darkness/n"); best tracks hold a connection with the samples he introduces in these tracks as they’re by far his best. “Cruel World”, “Aqap”, “C8 Diversity”, “Fire Is The Devil”, and “Punishing The Atoms” all evolve and progress as the minutes pick up, but the eerie samples brought in and even the blaster fire from Star Wars reel you in, unlike some of the less than stellar tracks that do not.
printf("shiver in eternal darkness/n"); may seem like your typical breakcore album, but the suddle attempts to include easily noticeable samples by the eye don’t necessarily translate to the ear, which is extremely impressive and only needs to be listened more to know where they lounge.
The major setback
printf("shiver in eternal darkness/n");has would definitely be the run time on some of these songs. Since a few of these songs feel uninspired or a bit dull without a unique introduction they do not develop the same ferocity or love that the other attached tracks have shown. This is where runtime truly becomes a major concern. Unable to keep us awake or interested some of these songs aren’t as great as you’d expect as the album nosedives slowly into obscurity once you notices these songs intruding on the excellent ones. Not a huge dive, but substantial enough to call out on. The style differs from the first half as the fast-paced and progressive breakcore songs instead treading towards ambient drone and slow moving movements that are actually better. This type of split is a bit odd for one album, which is why some may be caught in the middle.
