MICK HARRIS/AMBRE

DYS

  1/  Ome                                        (Harris,Ambre)                10.30
  2/  Blaste                                     (Harris,Ambre)                9.33
  3/  Algie                                      (Harris,Ambre)                8.20
  4/  Lithe                                      (Harris,Ambre)                14.53
  5/  Phane                                      (Harris,Ambre)                4.52

          Created and mixed at The Box 4, Birmingham, England, 2000/2001
          Produced by Mick Harris and Ambre
          Mastered at Metarc

Mick Harris and Ambre (C-Drik, Oliver Moreau and John N. Sellekaers): programming, treatments, sounds.

          2001 - Hushush (Canada), HSH 05 (CD)

REVIEWS :

This is the final installment of the Hushush 'Threesome Series' involving Ambre (members of Snog and Imminent Starvation among others), Mark Spybey (Dead Voices on Air) and Mick Harris (Scorn). "Dys" pairs Ambre and Harris with Harris in the driver's seat weaving together the samples from Ambre into 5 tracks over 48 minutes. The sound is similar to the textured, ambient headphone mindfuck of Harris' Lull project and the more sinister surrealist moments of Nurse With Wound. The moans and groans of minimal drone are peppered with stereophonic sound events and effects, often in sudden outbursts. It's all very atmospheric, if not dark and cinematic, devoid of discernible voices, beats or easily identifiable samples and often seemingly without structure. A few of the more uniquely interesting audio events occur in "Ome" with its brief sub bass loops and electronic leaf rustling and in the dense beginning of "Algie" with what resembles roller skates on a rain slicked Sidewalk. Unfortunately, I find "Dys" emotionally ineffectual. Plenty of interesting sounds and changes, but it more or less goes in one ear and out the other. It's just not staying with me like so many other similar works have. But despite going out with a bit of a whimper, the Threesome series was overall a varied success. I simply prefer Ambre/Spybey "Sfumato" and Spybey/Harris "Bad Roads, Young Drivers" over this one ...

Mark Weddle (courtesy of the brainwashed website)

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Dys constitutes the last installment in Hushush's Threesome series. After collaborations between Ambre and Mark Spybey, and Spybey and Mick Harris, listeners come full circle with this album by Harris and Ambre. If you are expecting something even remotely related to dub, you are in for a surprise (and if you thought it would be speed metal, it is time for you to learn that Harris also has a career going in electronica). Dys oscillates between the poles of dark ambient and musique concrète. Much more abstract than Harris' usual material but in a sense just as tortured and disquieting, the music sits you down and forces you to listen. The Belgian trio Ambre (whose members are also behind the Moonsanto project) supplied the raw material, the nature of which is difficult to determine. The first two of these five pieces fit the criteria of dark electronica. Ambient but subversive, they would make a very nice soundtrack for your Halloween trick or treating. "Blaste" is particularly well made, sounds elegantly folding one against the other. "Algie" and "Lithe" feature more dynamics and a manipulation process that strongly recalls academic acousmatics. "Phane" closes the proceedings with a minimalist electronic drone. Harris has rarely sounded this freed from stylistic constraints. Dys may not be his best album, but it makes a nice incursion further into left field.

2 1/2 stars out of 5

François Couture (courtesy of the All Music Guide website)