‘The Frog and the Volcano’ may well be one of the best things ever to escape the fevered hard drive of maverick Scottish electronica producer Frog Pocket. This, the latest release on his own imprint Mothmouth, is a triumph set in the turbulent waters between the organic electronica and skittery breakcore familiar from his live sets and the glacial, moody post rock of bands like Godspeed You! Black Emperor.
Opener ‘Bholcan’ sets the tone, moving from a subtle, shimmering introduction reminiscent of ambient maestro Ben Frost though a mountain of violin before building to a massive clash of guitars and distorted beats.
By third track ‘Crow Hill Jig’ proceedings have taken on a more upbeat, breaksy feel. As with much of Frog Pocket’s other work, acoustic instrumentation is much in evidence. This lends the track a feel at once reminiscent of world music, possible echoing psy-trance outfit Schpongle, while remaining utterly his own.
The first hints of breakcore come in track four ‘Prog Focket’, skipping time signatures here and there over suitably confused
sounding beats. The disorientating effect of this is counterbalanced by lush instrumentation and smooth chord progressions, like a string quartet trying out a 65daysofstatic cover.
These themes are repeated throughout the album, with the IDM and ambient leanings counterbalanced by a hefty layer of post rock drone and distortion, meandering riffs and rhythms and a complete lack of anything which could be described as a hook. The effect is mesmerising, particularly on title track (and album highlight) ‘The Frog and the Volcano’ which starts out with squeaks and burbles before building slowly to an everything-but-the-kitchen-sink sonic hurricane. However, even in the midst of this riot of sound it is apparent that you’re listening to a really well built piece of music. This album is a fantastic piece of work. Buy it now.