20CD - Combat Astronomy - The Dematerialised Passenger - CD plus download

"Stunning transatlantic fusion of relentless, low-end industrial force with the explosive, ecstatic noise of questing free jazz."- Tom Ridge, Neumu

"The dematerialised passenger is what you would get if Halo and Godflesh swapped blood with Ornette Coleman and half of the dudes on the altavistic label and then added a bunch of experimental ambient textures to the mix. To clarify, those are all good things in my book and I think this Combat Astronomy disc fucking rules. It sports some really nice cover art too, courtesy of prolific glitch madman Cordell Klier.
The rhythm and pace of the opening track, "Greedy Angels", is so jagged and spastic that at first I thought the disc was skipping. The drum programming on this track is fucking insane, and it takes some real chops to be able to do such a good job of keeping up with it. Most of the other tracks here don't have that same Ruins style evil prog rock vibe, instead opting for slow doom jams or mid tempo horn heavy groovesbut it all kicks ass.

I love everything here, but I guess I have my favorites. The textured doom of "Bad Phaser" really gets me off with its thick and ominous vibe and killer melodies, and I really enjoy "Orion", "Sulphur", and the title track a lot too. But like I said, I love everything here.

All of the tracks on "The dematerialised passenger" are executed with a simply amazing amount of technical precision, flow and ardor. I really can't do this record justice with words. Go check it out for yourself. Fucking essential." - Royce Icon, industrial.org

"Back in 2001 I received the debut album "Lunik" from relative newcomer Combat Astronony. That album was pretty kickass, to say the least. The band soon vanished and left listeners wanting more. Now back in 2005, Combat Astronomy has expanded the lineup, which now features three additional members, Martin Archer (alto/sopranino sax, bass clarinet, violin), Mick Beck (bassoon) and Charlie Collins (flute).

Musically the addition of the new members have taken the Combat Astronomy sound into some drastic new directions. Backing the once mechanical stuttering glitch compositions from the past are now thick layers of crunchy guitars, boisterous horns and spastic Jazz freakout sections. Some of the heaviest stuff can be found on the chugging Godflesh-like "Orion" or "Sulphur (Mercurated)." Both of these tracks contain a sort of "doom-like" quality mixed with funky Jazz-core elements.

I'm simply blown away by the complexity "The Dematerialised Passenger." The album is one of the best to come out this year for sure. Technically, the album is flawless, every song seems to flow perfectly within the construct. People always say that the sophomore release is always the hardest, but Combat Astronomy show here that they're more than up for the task of recreating and exploring new areas of sound without losing what made them so great in the first place. Fans of heavy guitar-Industrial music will love this album for sure." - Gunhead, Wetworkzeine.

"An amazing disc called "The Dematerialized Passenger" …which is like combining Mingus & Coltrane with Godflesh, except with drones galore instead of guitars - the disc is superb!" - Cordell Klier (Vedisni, Monstrare)

"Comprised of violent experimental jazz-prog suitable for the downtown Baghdad Barnes & Noble, this transatlantic (St Paul, MN/Sheffield UK) endeavor is ably powered by James Huggett's wounded-rhino abuse of electric bass, Martin Archer's mosquito-like sax-runs ("Collapsing Runways"), the mournful bassoon of Mick Beck ("Solar Guitars") and some clear-as-a-bell settling of the tiny studio itself - you can almost count the nails in the drywall in between the fits of rancor."- Eric Saeger, Movement Nouveax

This quartet features notables of the British jazz-improvisation scene, such as multitasking reed and electronics man Martin Archer, who also serves as the proprietor of this adventurous record label. Prepare your mind’s eye for a venture into a steely-edged and somewhat phantasmagorical joyride.
The artists’ bag of tricks is rooted within an otherworldly mergence of King Crimson-type bone-crushing rhythms, along with riotous jazz riffs. James Huggett generates some shock treatment with his blitzing and rather weighty e-bass attack. And with some industrial music overtones, the quartet’s pulsating ostinato rhythmic gyrations serve as a foundation for a sonic trip into the halls of doom. Take, for example, Huggett’s gargantuan fuzz bass lines, often enhanced by hazy electric guitar sounds and harrowing background treatments. 

On “Bad Phaser” the musicians skirt the peripheries of minimalism amid a regimented offbeat topped off with a harmonious riff. Then, on “The Dematerialised Passenger,” they churn out a programmatic groove, underscored by Charlie Collins’ ghostly flute passages. The ensemble ups the tempo to coincide with Charlie Collins and Archer’s diametrically contrasting solo work as a sense of the macabre finds its way into the free jazz scenario. It’s a fascinating listen, indeed! (Exuberantly recommended…)" - Glenn Astarita, All About Jazz

"Heavy as plutonium this, like a 21st century incarnation of Magma's operatic "zeuhl" onslaught. Disjointed, pounding drum programs mix with deep, detuned bass riffs and electronic buzzsaw drones to create a relentless suite of industrial sludge-prog heaviness. In places...the listener is invited to enter a trance like state of submission, whisked down a tunnel of single minded rhythmic insistence where, like all good white knuckle rides, terror soon gives way to exhilaration. Archer blows up a storm over these otherwise implacable doom laden templates. Elsewhere...the horns work themselves up into a kind of symphonic death-pomp, providing an undeniable martial flourish: the sound of a terrifying, imaginary invasion" - Daniel Spicer, Jazzwise

"Industrial strength rhythms courtesy of Huggett's seismic fuzz bass and some inpressively versatile programmed percussion, with powerful freewheeling jazz excursions....There are plenty of peak moments of elegant brutality and fluid invention....always walking a fine line between virtuosity and naked force." - Tom Ridge, Wire

"A grinding, rumbling distorto sub-bass death march with jackhammering machine beats... sounds kinda Godfleshy at first... but then, what's this? Heavy-duty blasts of saxophone, flute and bassoon?? Yes indeed, Combat Astronomy combine industrial metal with freaked out free jazz and prog, making for maybe the heaviest "jazz" record since Switzerland's under-exposed and now defunct 16-17 assaulted our ears with Gyatso back in '94. Yet there's also interludes of calm -- doomy passages of ambient moodiess with droning, multitracked reeds. And then it's back to the grind. The rhythms are punishingly mechanical, but also interestingly off-kilter. The weird timing adds to the sense of unease that's also built up by the squonky, skronky sax bleating and ominous electronics... Who's responsible for this brutal, beautiful madness? Well, Combat Astronomy's all-instrumental album The Dematerialized Passenger is a trans-Atlantic collaboration, built upon the foundation of the distorted bass, guitar and programmed beats of one Jamie Huggett from Minnesota USA, in collusion/collision with the saxes, clarinet, violin and effects of Sheffield UK's Martin Archer. Remember that Masayo Asahara cd we reviewed a while back? Saint Agnes Fountain, the supposed long-lost '70s Japanese minimalist drone-prog album that was actually the work of a current-day British musician? He's *that* guy. Two of Archer's pals join in on flute and bassoon as well. The results are likely to alienate all but the most adventureous jazz, metal, and prog fans...which is why we figured a lot of AQ customers might like it! Could certainly be a good one for fans of Godflesh, God, 16-17, Aufgehoben, Last Exit, Zdrastvootie, and other far out outfits on the extremes of industrial, prog and/or improv." -Aquarius Records

"This is a bit odd, but not so far out that comparisons can't be made. The promo lists it as "avant industrial rock-Jazz." I agree whole heartedly. What I hear is a really sludgy (down-tuned) rhythm driven experiment combining hard rock and lounge music in a thick heavy way and decorating the mush with flakes of freaky sax, violin, flute, and electronics. While a slew of underrated underground bands such as Godflesh or Sweet Tooth may have experimented with this kind of work, none have really made a big dent in the listening community (certainly not enough to chastise Combat Astronomy for trend jumping or unoriginality.) This is not a recording for this who like the traditional (guitar-bass-drum-singer) heavy metal line up. I think it is a release that could possibly be acceptable for both fans of metal and experimental music. If you ever find yourself entertaining such an awkward mix, you can be prepared." - Neo-zine

"Avant de dire, haut et fort, que The dematerialised passenger de Combat Astronomy est une petite merveille qui balaie les premiers risques d’inquiétude dès la seconde audition, tentons un peu de cerner la musique du quartet. Et, faute d’étiquette toute prête à coller, procédons, peut-être, par élimination. Combat Astronomy n’est assurément pas du jazz. Pourtant, les solos de saxophone, alto ou sopranino, de Martin Archer participent du meilleur free, empruntant plus encore à Dolphy ou Braxton qu’à John Zorn, par exemple. Ce n’est pas non plus du rock, quoique les programmations rythmiques de James Huggett ne laissent planer aucun doute sur les tendances binaires du projet, évoquant la frappe sèche et brutale d’un authentique batteur punk qui aurait appris la désynchronisation des membres au point d’installer un beat imparable mais somptueusement décalé. La définition correspondant généralement à la noise music est sans doute la plus séduisante, avec la basse hyper saturée du même Huggett ou ses arpèges électriques souvent repérés chez les petits malins de Sonic Youth, trublions pervers et insolemment doués. Mais que viennent alors faire le basson de Mick Beck et la flûte de Charlie Collins dans un environnement aussi ferraillant ? N’allez pas croire pour autant que nous ayons affaire ici à une tentative émargeant chez nos voisins les Contemporains. L’énergie de l’improvisation qui préside au concept général de Combat Astronomy ferait trop vite exploser les partitions, même symboliques, d’une telle catégorie. Pas plus que celles, bien réelles cette fois, du jazz-rock, du funk, de la new wave ou de la valse bavaroise, pourquoi pas ? Soyons précis et bref, pour une fois ! Combat Astronomy, c’est tout cela et rien de tel. Brassage panoramique aux harmonies simples mais aux textures compliquées, rythmes barbares mais vacillants, sonorités nouvelles, mille fois entendues mais jamais simultanément, improvisations suant le travail d’écriture, paradoxe vivant, oxymore constant, fusion, comme on le dit du métal ou de l’atome, contradiction perpétuelle au sein du microcosme musical correspondant au combat astronomique d’un univers toujours à deux doigts du Big Bang. Une modernité enfin résolue, expulsée du chaos vers un cosmos restructuré ! " - Joël PAGIER - Improjazz

"Archer's cross-cutting saxophone trills and tongue slaps plus spittle-encrusted pops bring an avant-garde interface to some tunes, but industrial style and strength guitar reverb triumphs over all else. There are times when the saxophonist's reed bites almost resemble punker James Chance's attempts at Free Jazz, but Archer has certainly proven his superiority to Chance many other places. High octane performances and on a higher level than your average rock-fusion session ….. may only appeal to those who are keen on being bludgeoned by improv sounds." - Ken Waxman - Jazz Word

"Jazz with the attitude of thrash metal....a surprisingly different release for Discus" - Audion

"The Dematerialised Passenger" ist das zweite Album des britischen Quartetts Combat Astronomy. Allerdings sind Combat Astronomy erst nach ihrem Debüt zu einer richtigen Band geworden, ursprünglich war es ein Soloprojekt von James Huggett. Das Debütalbum "Lunik" (2001) ist mir nicht bekannt, es erschien in Kleinstauflage und ist längst vergriffen. In einschlägigen Quellen ist zu lesen, dass es sich dabei um stark Noise/Industrial-orientierte Musik handelte. Auf "The Dematerialised Passenger" dagegen zeigen sich Combat Astronomy von einer ganz anderen Seite, RIO und zu Anfang auch deutlich zeuhlige Klänge herrschen vor. Der Auftakt von "Greedy Angels" zeigt schon, wo's hier langgeht: ein stark verzerrter Bass dröhnt, ein repetitives Muster aus kräftigen Orgelakkorden setzt ein, das Schlagzeug hämmert, es wummert und scheppert. Aber halt: Schlagzeug? Da steht doch in der Besetzung gar nix von Schlagzeug? Nun, das Schlagzeug benutzt hier das Pseudonym "Programmierung", d.h. kommt aus der Dose. An manchen Stellen finde ich den Klang desselbigen denn auch etwas steril, aber im allgemeinen stört es nicht so sehr. Jetzt aber zurück zu "Greedy Angels", denn eine wichtige und für das ganze Album charakteristische Komponente der Musik wurde noch nicht erwähnt: Martin Archers Saxofon. Archer ringt seinem Instrument derart schrille und schräge Töne ab, dass es eines Ornette Coleman würdig wäre. Auf den folgenden Stücken lässt der Zeuhl-Anteil mehr und mehr nach, prägend für die Musik bleiben aber nach wie vor der dröhnende Bass und das schrille Saxofon. "Orion" lässt die Noise-Vergangenheit der Band (bzw. James Huggetts) auferstehen, in Kombination mit Martin Archers (free-)jazzigem Saxofon ein faszinierendes Klangerlebnis. Gegen Ende löst sich das Stück in völlig freie Klänge auf. Ungewohnt diszipliniert geht es auf "Bad Phaser" zu.Ein weitgehend gleichförmiger Rhythmus von Bass und Schlagzeug, dazu ein paar elektronische Klangflächen sowie Cembalo-artiges Keyboard.Das Saxofon dagegen hält sich hier sehr zurück.Leider klingt gerade hier das Schlagzeug aus der Dose besonders steril. Mit den letzten drei Stücken, die jeweils nahtlos in einander übergehen, gibt es dafür noch einmal die volle Breitseite: grummelnder Bass, düster-noisige Elektronik, schrill quietschendes bis böse knurrendes Saxofon. Fazit: eine tolle Platte für Liebhaber der schrägeren Klänge. Und mit einem echten Schlagzeuger würde es mir noch besser gefallen.Vielleicht beim nächsten Mal? Jochen Frey