Prurient - And Still, Wanting

Prurient - Returning Truth



Click that sound sample with the utmost caution. Prurient produces some of the harshest power-noise-electronics you've ever heard. Caustic and punishing, his music is likely to make your ears bleed. And that's exactly why I love it.

The first time I heard Prurient, I got light-headed. Literally. It was only a 60 second sample from a website but it was love at first deafening. And while And Still, Wanting is the only record of Prurient's I've heard, I know genius when I hear it. This is it right here.

If you're not careful, the two opening tracks will blow out your speakers. They are harsh and gritty, but swimming underneath the corrosive outer layer lies subtle intricate beauties. Little lullabies that take the evil and make it glorious. Those levels of disgusting sorrow mixed with sweet dreams are what make this a truly rewarding record. Of course you're immediately taken aback when you hear And Still, Wanting, but if you stick around and get used to it's company, you see it's not just some loud mouthed prick, but only a little rough around the edges (OK, really rough).

There are tracks, though, that are much less abrasive but just as depressing. With the song "Total Terrorism," a static low end buzz creates the background while echoing percussion and vocals attempt to fill in the empty spaces. A creepy song, to say the least.

I've read this is Prurient's most accessible record to date (and possibly his best) and while it's hard to ever imagine a noise album being tagged as "accessible," my guess is that this could be that record. For those coming in with an open mind, And Still, Wanting is not totally off-putting. Like I said, it's not constantly destroying your eardrums and when it is, there's so many layers of beauty to enjoy.

One of the coolest parts of And Still, Wanting is that it comes with (at least in an initial limited edition) a 5" vinyl appendage that has two additional tracks, "Prologue" and "Epilogue," that are supposed to act as bookends for the album. Sadly, as my tiny apartment has no room for a record player, I have yet to hear these extra tracks. But still! That's awesome.