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Rating: Necrophilic electronic music, sadomasochistic, filthy, a naïve porn! Electronic because it’s filled with samples and synths, necrophilic because the target is the late 70s-early 80s era, the VHS tapes, and the distorted images, sadomasochistic and filthy not only because of the evocative (and indicative) cover, but especially for the sound that rightly leaves you feeling guilty and complicit, yet with an underlying sinister satisfaction. All of this is Ultima II Massage, an album by Tobacco (member of Black Moth Super Rainbow) that I collided with head-on after watching the terrifying video of Streaker, which I only recommend to the most adventurous (assuming it’s still online). Eric Wareheim’s delirium has become an inseparable element from the track - it’s seriously hard to imagine anything beyond - which is also the album opener and its most wicked episode. Beneath the frightening aspect lies a much more cunning pop structure than it seems: the distorted synth solo serves as a genuine refrain, with a typical Beck-like sound, and since he has already collaborated with Tobacco, he might have had a hand in it.
In any case, the rest of Ultima II Massage is very different, moving from the harsh indie vibes of Streaker to a much more muffled and psychedelic sound. Video Warning Attempts even recalls Boards of Canada, and it’s not the only episode on the album to do so, while a vocoder-masked vocal part emerges, a feature of many other tracks. Eruption is certainly one of the most inspired moments, along with Blow Your Heart; in this instance, the homage seems directed towards Daft Punk's Human After All, but given that both are inspired by the robotic sound of the 80s, it’s like saying everything and nothing. The massive use of heavily processed percussion and the use of rudimentary clappers and snares that blatantly disregard today’s crystalline productions leaves one perplexed; rather, they give a big middle finger to modernity with archaic and smug grime. It's like transferring a cassette to digital. Obviously, it’s all very deliberate and hardly random, but the listener receives true passion before a cold stylistic exercise.
What is certain is that Tobacco is no amateur and knows very well how to keep interest alive above the grotesque oddities of the album. Beast Sting opens with a monstrous, slowed-down voice that seriously gives chills, but soon after, it’s enriched with a series of delightful synths and guitar samples. A psy-tech that looks to the most creative and experimental periods in music history, but with a cybernetic eye. Face Breakout is an almost irresistible, dirty, organic, and sexy mess, while Father Sister Berzerker (kudos for the titles) continues with the same revised, processed, and compacted psychedelic program. The greatest merit of Ultima II Massage is the undeniable quality: all 16 tracks, aided by their short duration, flow smoothly and without noticeable dips. When it ends, it leaves a tempting monosodium glutamate aftertaste, and the temptation for another listen is high; I think there is no better compliment. If you want to explore Tobacco further, feel free to start here, try Ultima II Massage, and enjoy the pleasure of feeling a little dirty.
Tracklist
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