Man In Formaldehyde - Copper Sulphate Crystals
by Anthony Dhanendran
published: 29 / 12 / 2003
Label:
Pointy Bird
Format: CD
intro
Flawed, "slightly too anonymous" electronica from one man solo project from the Isle of Wight
Is it a sheep? Is it a cow? No, it’s a man… in formaldehyde. This oddly named act turns out in fact to be “one anonymous man, from the Isle of Wight, synth, an acoustic guitar and a computer, producing beautiful, warm, cinematic music,” according to the press release. It certainly sounds like the music of isolation, of those long evenings trapped on the Isle of Wight, with nothing to do but throw another tune on the sequencer. The problem with ‘Copper Sulphate Crystals’ is that it is slightly too anonymous. The vast soundscapes cooked up on these tracks are difficult to negotiate, and with little in the way of aural signposts, it is easy to get lost in the music. Of course, that is, to a certain extent, the point of all ambient and associated music, but in places on ‘Copper Sulphate Crystals’, it is very easy to drift away and find that huge sections of music have passed by. The second track, named A3055, presumably after the Totland-Ryde trunk road on the island, is appropriately long and tortuous, but is at the same time perfectly pleasant. The music only occasionally challenges the listener, such as when the scuzzy drums of the glitch heavy ‘Earthmonster 1’ assault the ears after half an hour of relatively easy listening. Man in Formaldehyde boasts that despite the "loops-a-plenty, there are no samples of other artists' work here. Formaldehyde plunders only his own creations and has developed a very personal sonic palette." That is certainly true, but the palette is perhaps a little too limited in places. And clocking in at a touch over 70 minutes, it is a hard slog to get through and stay focused on throughout. ‘Copper Sulphate Crystals’ is in places both interesting and aesthetic, as on ‘Zero G 100’s and 1,000’s experiment 1’ and ‘…experiment 2’, which recall Vangelis’ 'Blade Runner 'soundtrack, and throughout it evokes feelings of isolation and, occasionally, tantalising romance. But ultimately it doesn’t do enough to engage with the listener, and is somewhat disappointing as a result.
Track Listing:-
1 Copper Sulphate Crystal 12 A3055
3 The Sacred Heart of Jesus
4 Birds Spin in Magnetic Milk
5 Earthmonster 1
6 Earthmonster 2
7 Zero G 100's and 1,000's experiment 1
8 Harry's Song
9 Mother's Day
10 Zero G 100's and 1,000's experiment 2
11 Copper Sulphate Crystal 2
most viewed articles
current edition
Screamin' Cheetah Wheelies - Sala Apolo, Barcelona, 29/11/2023 and La Paqui, Madrid, 30/11/2023Anthony Phillips - Interview
Difford and Tilbrook - Difford and Tilbrook
Rain Parade - Interview
Oldfield Youth Club - Interview
Autumn 1904 - Interview
Shaw's Trailer Park - Interview
Cafe No. 9, Sheffield and Grass Roots Venues - Comment
Chris Hludzik - Vinyl Stories
Pete Berwick - ‘Too Wild to Tame’: The story of the Boyzz:
most viewed reviews
current edition
Serious Sam Barrett - A Drop of the Morning DewMarika Hackman - Big Sigh
Rod Stewart and Jools Holland - Swing Fever
Loves - True Love: The Most of The Loves
Ian M Bailey - We Live in Strange Times
Paul McCartney and Wings - Band on the Run
Autumn 1904 - Tales of Innocence
Roberta Flack - Lost Takes
Banter - Heroes
Posey Hill - No Clear Place to Fall
Pennyblackmusic Regular Contributors
Adrian Janes
Amanda J. Window
Andrew Twambley
Anthony Dhanendran
Benjamin Howarth
Cila Warncke
Daniel Cressey
Darren Aston
Dastardly
Dave Goodwin
Denzil Watson
Dominic B. Simpson
Eoghan Lyng
Fiona Hutchings
Harry Sherriff
Helen Tipping
Jamie Rowland
John Clarkson
Julie Cruickshank
Kimberly Bright
Lisa Torem
Maarten Schiethart