ALBUM REVIEW: Public Memory “Ripped Apparition”

Public-Memory-Ripped-Apparition-cover-art

Public Memory “Ripped Apparition” cover-art

Hovering between the grounded rhythms of dub music and the pure atmospheric sounds of indie music lies Public Memory. Having crafted a distinctive sound that is amorphous yet impactful with releases such as Wuthering Drum and Demolition, the newest release Ripped Aparition continues in that vein yet expands upon it in new and imaginative ways.

The album begins with the ominous warblings of “Worn Shadow,” which slowly builds the tension until it feels like it’ll burst. Which it does, into the hypnotic bass vibrations of “Bad Orbit.” The consistency of the bass develops the perfect backdrop for the crescendo of the melodic motif. When the vocals enter, it grabs ahold of you despite its ethereal nature. The song then holds its steady groove, as endless waves of effects float in and out until it slowly winds down.

The blissful keyboard of “Dusseldorf Witch Hat” drifts in, lulling the listener into a false sense of time and space; the trip hop beat backed by the overdriven bass counterpoint the meandering sounds and melodies perfectly. This gives the song a feeling of always moving forward yet staying in the same place, and it’s the perfect kind of song to get the creativity flowing.

Building up the epic feeling of this release, “Courtroom Tap Water” establishes itself with laser precision; by employing reverb and a slow well-placed snare pattern, it evokes a cavern hidden deep in the forest that keeps calling out to you. All of this feeds into the lumbering behemoth named “Butcher.” It’s a tune that has an overpowering heavy presence, which only highlights the peaceful musings of the lyrics. It is mind numbing the way in which this song infects the brain and lingers long after it’s gone.

“Azimuth” keeps those vibes rolling along. The methodical pacing, the metronomic click of the ride, and the warmth of the bassline fuse together to forge a surrealistic sound that’s hard to get enough of. All of this paves the way for “Midsummer Shadow,” a song that truly goes hard. The vocals and rhythm each have a barely contained feeling of anger as an undercurrent, with the bass and other elements helping to build the atmosphere which seeps down into the depths of your soul.

Public-Memory-press-photo

Public Memory press photo

The playful trip hop beat of “Epigone” stands in contrast to the previous works, but somehow still matches the delicate ferocity of what came before it. It accomplishes that with a mesmerizing melody and a rhythm which feels like a ship rocking back and forth that is taking you to an uncertain destination.

Taking a cue from the previous track, “Dracula AD,” takes the melodic sense and turns it on its head. While containing some very pleasing motifs, there is a darkness floating around in the track which creates a sense of rising anxiety. When the otherworldly vocals enter, it becomes apparent this is a track that adeptly combines polar opposites into something fresh and exciting.

Closing out the release is the massive “Lost Future.” Combining all of the disparate elements found throughout the album into one song, it never veers into chaos and instead stays ever sure of itself. In addition, this song plays with the experimentalism so prevalent on the album; it is eye opening how this song sounds truly experimental yet instantly gets stuck in your head.

Public Memory has crafted another fantastic gem with Ripped Apparition. Whether you are looking for an introspective album or love the left-field explorations of lo-fi, there is plenty to dig into here. Get it now via pre-order or on general release this November 20th on Felte Records!