Vaura - Vista of Deviant Anatomies LP
Fourth album from dark experimental trio Vaura, finally available on vinyl. Featuring Joshua Strachan (Desolation Colony, Blacklist, Azar Swan), Toby Driver (Kayo Dot, Alora Crucible, maudlin of the Well) and Kevin Hufnagel (Dysrhythmia, Gorguts, Sabbath Assembly). Vista Of Deviant Anatomies, originally self-released digitally in 2022, reveals the group delving further into the avant-garde than their preceding black metal-laden post-punk albums on Profound Lore and Wierd Records. Vista Of Deviant Anatomies' eight tracks present maximalist industrial compositions devolving into surreal atmospheric noisescapes, inspired first and foremost by the writings of Thomas Ligotti, but also by the film soundtracks of Scott Walker, and the uncanny audio explorations of Nurse With Wound.
Featuring guest contributions from Isidro Reyes (BLOODYMINDED, Anatomy of Habit) on metal percussion, strings by Timba Harris (Secret Chiefs 3) and warped woodwinds by Tzadik clarinetist Jeremiah Cymerman. Mixed by Toby Driver and mastered by Grant Richardson. Pressed on "moonlight" colored vinyl with a 12-page booklet.
Strachan says, "The way Ligotti's work has generally been approached by musicians has been to read his writing over sounds or music. I found myself reading him while listening to a lot of Portuguese black metal and dark ambient from this circle of artists that basically worship the French LLN bands. There's something about that lack of clarity and focus on pure atmosphere that I thought fit really well with the Ligottian philosophy of the illusion of selfhood. But I also find his worlds mesmerizing. I wanted to capture that sort of dark ecstasy of his visions, while also practicing the progressive deconstruction of our selfhood as musicians, the clarity of our instruments and of my voice."
