Fantomas - Suspended Animation (CD 2005) new

this cd is brand new and sealed

Despite their complexity, cartoon soundtracks have largely been regarded as the redheaded stepchildren of the music world. For culturally disinterested youths, however, Elmer Fudd's performance in the Bugs Bunny classic "What's Opera, Doc?" offered a priceless introduction to classical music.
Just as Chuck Jones's 1957 animated short paid homage to Wagnerian opera, Fantomas's SUSPENDED ANIMATION pays thrash-metaltribute to cartoon music. In marked contrast to its haunting 2004 single-track opus, DELIRIUM CORDIA, the band's follow-up borrows the onomatopoeic nature and intricate arrangement of the cartoon score, and sets it within the unlikely context of grinding metal and atmospheric jazz. The music here is organised chaos, exemplified by frenetic bass-and-drums freakouts ("04/12/05 Tuesday") and Mike Patton's spastic, gurgling vocal manipulations ("04/26/05 Tuesday"). Guitarist Buzz Osborne (Melvins), bassist Trevor Dunn, and drummer Dave Lombardo (Slayer) perform the fantastically difficult orchestration, heroically leaping from grindcore riffs into melodicpreludes with flawless precision. The result is a surprisingly seamless score split up into 30 tracks, perfectly balanced between lighthearted fun and gnashing noise.

after the single-track, seventy minute aural exercise that was "Delirium Cordia", mike patton has taken one of his strangest bands full-circle, with 30 short, sharp tracks of screamy noise. a hark back to their first, self-titled album, "Suspended Animation" is something of a landmark for fantomas as it actually sounds something like one of their other records.
however, don't be decieved into thinking that this is a carbon copy. the album is themed around the month of April 2005, the month of its release, with each song representing a day ("30 miniature holidays in 43 minutes"). the addition of manic cartoon sound-effects and toy instruments, as well as a few more melvins influenced moments, means that the band sound as fresh as they did back in 1999.
as always, the album is packaged beautifully, with a 30-page calendar illustrated by Japanese cartoonist Yoshitomo Nara.
fantomas has always been the vehicle for patton's manic side, and this album really doesn't disappoint. if you liked the first album, you'll like this. if you found the last album a bit much, buy this. if you like a clear song structure, don't.