Horror Vacuii: all the colors of the dark
Horror vacuii is the fear of empty spaces. This term is used in visual art and means filling of the entire surface of an artwork with details in order not to leave any gap. The same name belongs to Madrid band formed in 2006 and being inspired by early french coldwave and classic post-punk.
In fact, the only permanent member of the band and the heart of it is Miguel Martinez Madrid responsible for vocal, guitar, composition, lyrics, drum programming, engeneering and design. As for bass, percussion and keyboard, musicians constantly changed, and at this very moment Miguel’s colleagues are bass player Daniel “Nikola Tesla” and Dr. Kevorkian – a laptop, “responsible” for percussion and effects.
Since 2006 the band released several demos. The last one is recorded by Miguel in his homestudio and launched this March under the name of “Todos los colores de la oscuridad” (“All the colores of the dark”). This name let us understand what are the colores filling the entire surface of musical artwork made in horror vacui way.
Demo starts with a track of the same name “Todos los colores de la oscuridad” being a potential hit. Its striking tune and vigour make us learn it by heart instantly and join in singing. The main theme is formed with accuratly adjusted web of guitar, bass and digital effects and is accentuated by intentionally simple “beating” percussion. The guitar, hard and slightly rough, is drowning in bass and electronic sound and staggering neurvosly during the solo.
The next song, “Con las manos vacias” (“With nothing in my hands”), goes on the same direction. We could already hear it on the band’s previous demo, “No es Arcadia”. In the new version it lost its evident straightforwardness and simple presenting. Now it’s denser and more interesting thanks to use of electronics, and it stays energetic and agressive at the same time.
Then drive makes way for slower pace of “Los espejos viven” (“The mirrors live”) with touching and catchy tune. It has melancholic and insinuating notes, some warm-heartedness which opens new side of dark emotions of Horror Vacuii. The song has the same approach as the previous ones: electronics and guitar are entwined, support each other, showing different melodic aspects of each other and forming smooth and pleasant sound line. The only disadvantage of it is brevity. The mirrors could live and watch a little bit longer.
At the end Horror Vacuii pays a tribute to the cult spanish band Paralisis Permanente by a cover version of their “El Acto”. We could already hear it on “Tribute to Paralisis Permanente” released by Zorch Factory Records. Making a cover version is a natural and expected thing – both in historical and stylistic points of view (even design of “Todos los colores…” reminds cover art of original “El Acto” album). Thanks to Horror Vacuii “El Acto” became a kind of a dance track. Comparing to an original version, there is no more menacing and warning intonations, the song became faster, beating and more agressive. The original tune is very distinct itself, but here it’s like being really relished. Bass plays deliberately in unison with guitar, electronics intensifies the melody filling it with new colors and percussion drum it into our heads.
So the demo demonstrates the development of Horror Vacuii sound. Releases of 2007 were obviously influenced by coldwave with plenty of electronic effects, pace slowed down and distinctive tired and melancholic atmosphere. On their next abovementioned release of 2008, “No es Arcadia”, we see the contrary – music stuff is made in raw and speedy post-punk way. “Todos los colores de la oscuridad” reaches the balance combining both approaches. Hardness, straightforwardness and pressure meet a bit mystical and enveloping coldwave part. And at the same time all the main features of the band stay the same – simple structure, individual melodics and sound accuracy.
A real advantage of the demo is undoubted quality of rendering and record (and it’s a pleasant surprise considering the fact it’s complete DIY). Ideal balance of guitar and electronic sound is enjoyable as well. After all the experiments caused, perhaps, by inconstancy of members Horror Vacuii find their way and chose obscure and agressive mix of post-punk and coldwave. Among other pluses let’s mention expressive and striking melodies – obtrusive but being perceived with ease and pleasure. All that show their individuality.
The main disadvantages are little number of really new songs (actually, there are two of them) and Dr. Kevorkian. Of course, he’s cute and charming, but he adds some inappropriate plastic to the sound (though somebody could like that).
So we see one of the most interesting and talented young bands of the modern spanish post-punk scene (we can see it better while listening to abovementioned tribute and comparing Horror Vacuii cover with versions of other spanish bands). Let’s hope Horror Vacuii finally gets their permanent members and a train of demos becomes an album showing their potential properly.
Ela Salome
‘Grave jibes Fanzine’
Photos by Victor VS
