Black Rain - Dark Pool (2014)

Black Rain dials deep into the Blackest Ever Black psyche with 'Dark Pool', its first new material in 18 years. An eagerly awaited follow-up to 'Protoplasm' (2012) and 'Now I'm Just A Number: Soundtracks 1994-95' (2012), it features New York's dark interpreter, Stuart Argabright - Ike Yard instigator and erstwhile member of Dominatrix, Death Comet Crew - realise his starkest sci-fi fantasies in degrees of pitch black relief streaked with strobing neon flashes and whirring tribal/industrial rhythms comparable with his label-mates, Regis or Cut Hands. Thematically it builds upon the literary influence of William Gibson in previous records by taking new inspiration from the writings of PKD protégé K.W. Jeter's 'Edge of Human' (1996) - essentially a Blade Runner 2 - and Paolo Bacigalupi's 2009 novel, 'The Windup Girl', set in a 23rd century Thailand plagued by genetic and economic terrorism. Coupled with Argabright's Ballardian knack for detailed sonic mise-en-scene and dramaturgy, it's a thoroughly immersive experience, begging to be heard on night buses and 13th floor apartments with the blinds shut. in boomkat