Allow me to skip any wind bagging introduction here and just say that this split between Mamiffer and Pyramids is one of those pairings that two like minded musical acts lay down some of the coolest work that either has produced that somehow feels like a logical extension of each others work where none of the tracks would sound out of place on either of the artist’s own albums; now, that might be due in no small part to the incestuous relationship of the two projects but the songs still retain the identity of the authors.
Both of Mamiffer’s entries for this split are soaring examples of just what the duo of Faith Coloccia and Aaron Turner are capable of with the project in that here they juxtapose sounds that on the surface do not gel and create striking pieces of music that titillate and challenge listeners, but do not take my word for it instead take for instance “Sophia” and the way that the gentle piano perfectly contrasts with the droning feedback in what sounds like a duet between the two seeming diametrically opposed sounds; the result is one of the more beautiful songs in the Mamiffer canon, and yet, excluding the equally stunning “Ticha Noc” from this discussion would be a disservice to this duo as this is evocative mix of searing feedback, noise, and haunting vocals.
The contribution from Pyramids brings that project virtually full circle as “This One Is For Everyone” sounds like it would not have been out of place on their debut full length while also incorporating some of the newer elements that the mysterious group has shown on its other releases, but this new song is hypnotizing in a manner that the debut was not in that I find myself drawn to listening to its lush layers, weird beats, and effects laden vocals in a way that the album just seemed to be me missing (the remix by William Fowler Collins (available on the Japanese CD version of the split) is just as captivating with a whole host of new sounds added to augment the already excellent track).
Calling this split anything other than beautiful is difficult for me to do because both Mamiffer and Pyramids offer just such music on this split release, and my attention has been brought back to the release many times over since it first arrived on my doorstep; sometimes you can anticipate a record so much and be disappointed, but both bands deliver in the best ways possible and make their case for this being a must hear for discerning listeners everywhere.
