Fat Cat reaches a score with the most recent blast in the always excellent “Split Series”. 19 saw a fantastic 12” from Sunroof! and Kemialliset Ystavat, which tapped into the modern underground with blackened fingers. Now we are treated to two practiced masters of experiment; firstly Alog – a Norwegian outfit who’ve been knocking around for over a decade making warped soundscapes. These North-dwelling noisesmiths grace the A Side with a single piece spanning just under 13 minutes.

Drum machine taps a hi-hat splatter that is soon connected to a hollow wooden percussive motion that twists an engrossing rhythm. Bounding intently, the sound is reminiscent of what you frequently find on the Rune Grammofon label (previously home to Alog). Some short chants are layered as other organic sounds are bound with digital precision in a jumble of beats and loops. Low piano sits unusually as the vocals double with cutting brevity. This is a head spin of a track hypnotizing the listener to cyclical distraction. Elastic bass appears as layers dissolve into one another and a swirling metal cuts a rhythm. The sound shifts with the eloquence of an elongated DJ fade – (elements evolving matched by beats). The drum machine gains prominence once more, and then the vocals chant forth with purpose and speed. The pace slows with psych guitar and electronics, which veer off the electronica/techno radar, and into an interesting dissonance. Vocals once again ascend with rolling repetition. All bubble with determination which then fades in reverb.

Astral Social Club consume the B Side beginning with a frantic acid techno blast. The pounding techno and ingenious electronics harbour hints from their long running self released series (see number 19). This is a manic high frequency ramble through micro-whirlwinds and clambering digital insects. Elements of Black Dice and even early Animal Collective (minus vocals) spring to mind. The bass bulldozers quietly with heartbeat formations that pulsate in constants. Latter shifts occur raising the sound to a heart-warming swell akin to classic trance formations. Then all collapses in sparkler spirals that crackle and pop with blissful ephemera. This melts into the middle section (track 2) which incorporates acoustic strings and loopy electronic mischief. Ambient in comparison to its predecessor, yet wrought with intricate maniacal wisdom, the piece drifts perfectly, with the linear straight-to-the-heavens laser beam that is ASC’s signature sound. Electric fire and warbling vocal spooks quiver and raise with frightening effect. The barmy magic seems to conclude too quickly, suddenly switching to the industrial clamour of the final track. Throbbing Gristle coding and cacophony are definite points of reference as electronic and analogue collide with hard bloodied fists. A proper rave-up of fucked imperfections. This is almost a punctuation of surprise, a 2 minute blip that exclaims the terminus of a short and sweet record.

Two A’s for this project and a hands-up for fried acid techno, psych blended mayhem! 8/10 -- Peter Taylor (3 November, 2009)