Phoenecia – Demissions 8.5

                Phoenecia is the least prolific band ever. Over the course of a decade, they’ve been silent, with a release in 2001, then nothing. Since 2009 they appear to be hyper-active by their slothful standards, releasing two albums in two years. Three albums in a decade, with four EPs in the span of fourteen years, they know how to mull over a release. With “Demissions” the time is well-spent. Every sound on Demissions is nimble. At times I think of tiny pings from sewer pipes, the sound is that tactile.

                ‘Demissions’ reminds me of an Autechre remix of Miami bass. I’m glad to hear after such a long time that Phoenecia still knows how to create an atmosphere, a mood, and a beat. In fairness, their 2001 album “Brownout” hinted at this approach, showing a knack for timeless sounds, meticulous design, and a certain fondness for darkness. And Demissions is a dark, spacious album. 

                The beginner is a beautiful piece. It teems with life below the surface. ‘Nostrum Remedium’ goes to a stranger place, to a place of deconstructed hip hop sounds, barely recognizable. ‘Frendano’ is even harder to categorize. ‘Seba’ is one of my favorites on the album. To me it sounds like a sunny winter day with snow all around. Somehow winter is always sunnier, due to the cold reflection of the sun on snow. It is the lightest track in the beginning, and offers a way out of the extreme darkness. This contemplative track comes right before ‘Dogness’ a track latter-day Autechre would be proud to call one of its own. Melodies break down, beats stumble over each other. The rest of the album follows this path, with a remarkable dedication to mood and texture. 

                One decade later, Phoenecia still sounds relevant. It is quite amazing what ‘Demissions’ accomplishes in its short span. What is more amazing is how Phoenecia continues to retain all of its dark energy a whole decade later.