Chad VanGaalen really didn’t need to assume the Black Mold moniker
for this album, very much a recording by him and for his listeners,
right down to the song titles and cover illustrations. On his previous
records he’d already brought beautiful electronic soundscapes to bear
on his skill for melody. Here, the melodies are truncated, like
vignettes or studies. Once established, they’re mere launching points
for longer explorations. Songs vary widely in length, flowing into one
another. The best sequence has to be “No Dream Nation,” “Pristine
Boobies” and the title track.
This article appears in Aug 6-12, 2009.
