Radian - Chimeric

Despite a career spanning nearly ten years and three albums behind their belt with Chimeric being their fourth this is the first time Radian have found their way onto my radar, not too surprisingly as this band are so un radio friendly they would have a hard chance finding their way onto Radio 6's Freakshow, there is no question about it this is certainly an album for proper music lovers, not the sort of people that when asked 'what music do you like?' they reply 'everything' this is music for the type of person that when asked that very same question, they reply with a long and carefully structured and well thought out answer.

So in case you hadn't guessed already, this is a particularly challenging album, one that has had me pondering over what to write for some time as the first time I put it on in the background on a nice sunny day and that really wasn't working. Chimeric is an album that needs your full attention, it needs to be played loud and preferably when it's dark outside because there is a real atmosphere created as you delve deeper into the wonderful world of Radian.

It's almost like you are listening to the soundtrack to a horror film, in fact I've heard horror soundtracks that make you feel less on edge than this but the album as a piece tells a story. After their last album Radian took a long break before moving back into the studio to record Chimeric and they wanted to come back with this record and not get stuck into any sort of routine, enter new territories which is something they have certainly achieved with this record.

First track 'Git Cut Noise' merely eases you in with odd timings and a loud fuzzy bassline, after that the album consists songs such as 'Feedbackmikro / City Lights' and 'Chimera' which between them are nearly twenty minutes of eerie squeaks and hazy, odd ambient noise running through building layer upon layer of raw samples and loud drums.

This is certainly not one for the faint hearted, there is a hell of a lot going on here from electronic to organic sounds. If you think Battles are too mainstream give this a try.