Blanck Mass

There's something haunting about the appropriately named moniker of British electronic soloist Blanck Mass, a.k.a. Benjamin John Power. Carving out a unique corner of noise that combines elements of gothic synth, coldwave, industrial, math rock and classical sci-fi, "In Ferneaux" opens the scoring with a track that's arguably the most Blanck Mass of all time - "Phase I" - a spellbinding, fantastical, arpeggiated keyboard exhibition that belongs in a cathedral of electronica. "Phase II", the adjoining track, gives its predecessor a run for that money. Bringing white noise to the fore, but creating a real sense of depth and atmosphere by way of a background sonic jumble, if part one was a display of staggering musicality by way of cascading organs, the second firmly stakes its claim in the idea that Mr Mass is at his best when presenting that which defies definition.