APOPTYGMA BERZERK - Mourn
Songs: 7 Time:  40:26
It had been so long since I last listened to 7 and even longer since it was released that I did not realize (until I listened to it) that Mourn was taken from that album.  Mourn was one of the great tracks on 7 and now, nearly 2 years later, we get to hear some new mixes of it, as well as a few new tracks.  Mourn begins with the APB Remix of the title track.  This mix is a far cry from the original in that the Nirvana guitar riffs are omitted, the electronics are beefed up and made to sound a bit more techno-ish, and a female backing vocalist is added.  I was well impressed with what Grothesk did with this piece, transforming it into a more dance friendly club piece.  Industrial Heads put their minds to work on their mix of Mourn and strip it down to the bare essentials; a deep rhythm, soothing vocals, quippy sequences, and a strict EBM beat.  Untitled Too also appears on this EP in the form of the Sweep remix.  Beginning with a music box type sequence, this track slowly morphs into a synth-pop piece with non-threatening vocals and plenty of wet sequences laid over top of a mild, danceable beat.  A new piece, entitled Ohm Sweet Ohm, incorporates robotic vocals, woodwind sequences mixed with some cascading electronic sequences, and a simple beat.  While this track is nothing spectacular, I believe it was intended to be more atmospheric, rather than dancey.  Another new piece, Electricity (fac 6) is a mixture of cyber electro and synth-pop.  Whereas the vocals and main sequence lean more towards catchy and tranquilizing, some of the backing elements are more reminiscent of edgy electro mayhem.  Lastly, Snutt 7 is a slow piece which is reliant on the distant vocals and orchestrated sequences.  Again, this is not the greatest work by Grothesk, but it is a nice way of calmly finishing of this EP.  There is still no word on when the next full length will be out, but if you need you Apoptygma Berzerk fix, then Mourn is not a bad bet for your money.
 
TATRA
Box 96
N-1450 Nesoddtangen
Norway
Tel: 47 66 910150
Fax: 47 66 914502
     
Apoptygma Berzerk is:
Stephan Grothesk