Strings of Consciousness
From Beyond Love
Release Date: Apr 23, 2012
Genre(s): Avant-Garde, Alternative/Indie Rock, Alternative Pop/Rock
Record label: Staubgold
Music Critic Score
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Album Review: From Beyond Love by Strings of Consciousness
Very Good, Based on 4 Critics
Based on rating 4/5
Even given the fact that collaboration is the norm among experimental artists, there is something unique in Strings of Consciousness’ defiantly collaborative spirit. The group is little more than a loose collective of up to 14 mostly European experimental musicians centered around electronic artist Philippe Petit and multi-instrumentalist Herve Vincenti. They seem to draw a peculiar energy from bringing others into their creative process.
Based on rating 7/10
Herve Vincenti and Philippe Petit's collective group retains its neo-no wave/industrial clatter on From Beyond Love, again recruiting a variety of guest vocalists track for track to extend the feeling of a decentralized, ever-shifting effort. "The Drone from Beyond Love" features Battle of Mice/Made Out of Babies' Julie Christmas, whose clear but still subtly nervous/lost-child tones nicely contrast the bass-led dramatics of the performers. Pantaleimon sings lead on "Sleepwalker," her wordless hums and echoed, strong, but still gentle pronouncements floating on a busy arrangement that consists of a swirl of melodies and solos, and builds to a dramatic climax of four repeated patterns -- and all without ever raising her voice.
Based on rating 6/10
The punnily-named Strings of Consciousness are anything but silly—there’s dark mood pervading From Beyond Love that lingers long after the final second has ticked away. The Strings, a collective whose core is comprised of Philippe Petit (no, not the guy who walked across the Twin Towers) and Herve Vincenti, perform “art rock” in the truest sense of the word. From Beyond Love feels more like walking through an exhibit of installations rather than listening to a music album.
Opinion: Excellent
Strings of Consciousness are the gloriously ambitious petri-dish experiment of Marseille's Hervé Vincenti and Philippe Petit. The five shambling compositions on From Beyond Love are completely unhinged and sonically fascinating monsters, each featuring a different cluster of notable musicians. The impressive roster boasts appearances from members of Throbbing Gristle, Wire, Current 93, Oxbow and Pere Ubu.