Review
Livimorket & Sequences
Voidness

Sunyata (2011) Bob

Livimorket & Sequences – Voidness cover artwork
Livimorket & Sequences – Voidness — Sunyata, 2011

Do you know why I find collaborative efforts so appealing in musical and other such sonic arenas (besides that they signal more work by artists that I follow / collect / obsess over)? There is an element of wonder and anticipation surrounding what exactly the final work will sound like once either collaborators or sets of collaborators work their respective magick on the sonic cauldron which they might be stewing; hence, my eagerness at hearing Voidness upon the announcement of its impending existence.

In truth, Voidness is a just under sixty minutes of dark foreboding atmosphere spread out over four sides of two cassette tapes packaged in a handmade construction; there are ceaseless drones and a sonic bed of what seems like an unspeakable horror sitting on the cusp of ear shot waiting to crush you with whatever fear that you may have (like any great Lovecraftian nightmare that this work seemingly soundtracks), but there is another level not quite ominous but rather like a grim resignation that is aurally brought by a guitar that plots its own course through the sea of atmosphere (at times Voidness also reminds me of the soundtrack to the claustrophobic Soderbergh remake of Solaris, which is not so much of a stretch as there is a definite “narrative” progression that is evident in Voidness). Listening to what Livimorket & Sequences exposes in an extremely subtle manner seemingly touches on a host of human emotion ranging from drone affecting despair to atmospheric suffocating loneliness to a deep dread, and while all of these are genuine feelings that can be evoked by Voidness, it would cheapen the work by summarily describing the piece with only what could be deemed as platitudes attempting to describe negative emotional responses as these tapes are assuredly a hauntingly beautiful listening experience (of course one could say that I am simply seeing the beauty in the darkness but I would mostly disagree with that sentiment).

On aspect of this collaboration that is very difficult to hear most of the time is where one of the two entities influences the music more that the other (though on Side D, or Side B of tape two depending on how you look at it, the heavy guitar may come from Livimorket moreso than that of Sequences) and perhaps that is the best indication of why this collaboration is so successful, the lines between the artists are so blurred that it becomes a creative force unto itself; Voidness is seriously great, and you need to get it.

8.0 / 10Bob • September 12, 2011

Livimorket & Sequences – Voidness cover artwork
Livimorket & Sequences – Voidness — Sunyata, 2011

Recently-posted album reviews

Menace Ruine

The Color of the Grave Is Green
Union Finale Records (2025)

One of the most unique voices in extreme music, Menace Ruine stand out in their sonic evolution. The duo of Geneviève Beaulieu and Steve de la Moth started out in a raw, uncompromising fashion, merging black metal and industrial to create absolute havoc in Cult of Ruins and The Die is Cast. In the coming years, they would expand this … Read more

Extortionist

Stare Into The Seething Wounds
Unique Leader (2025)

With a band name like Extortionist, you instantly know they aren’t messing around. I’ve watched enough true crime documentaries to know when you’re going to get tangled up with someone you shouldn’t. Hailing from the Pacific Northwest, this band gives you exactly what you want and expect – raw, merciless and unforgiving music. Looking at the cover art and their … Read more

The Carolyn

Pyramid Scheme of Grief
59X, Disconnect/Disconnect (2025)

This is one of my "find" records of the year so far. I caught a few songs by The Carolyn at FEST 22 and that essentially put them on my radar, but a new record gets a band even more on my radar. But I've been struggling on how to describe The Carolyn. I'll start with "like The Lawrence Arms, … Read more