kreng: grimoire

ltd ed repress. The less one knows about Belgian sound alchemist Pepijn Caudron (Kreng), the better. His debut release L'Autopsie Phénoménale de Dieu appeared seemingly out of nowhere on Miasmah in 2009, but other than that very little tangible information has surfaced. This 2011 sequel, the blackly monikered Grimoire, simply reinforces Caudron's shadowy legacy with a similarly dank concoction of cracked strings, creaking percussion, and half-heard dialogue. Thankfully, however, Caudron has refined his craft in every way, from the artfully restrained layering of samples to the deliriously magickal atmosphere he manages to conjure up. There is the sense even from the first few seconds of the record that one is transported out of time and reality, and as hoarse, alien breaths croak over oily bass drones, the poignant spoken words "You don't belong here" become an apt anchor for the entire album. It seems almost too easy to compare Grimoire to a film soundtrack at this point; sure, Caudron has listened to his fair share of chilling scores, but Grimoire is more than simply homage. A grimoire is a book of magic, the most important of which have held strangleholds on cultures both ancient and contemporary, more pervasive than most people probably care to realize. These books have slipped into folklore and legend, and like those faded pages of incantations there is something deeply mystical and indescribable about Kreng's music. Caudron's background in theater no doubt forms a strong foundation for his compositions, but there is so much about his work that only creeps into the light after countless hours of study. These songs are best suited to moonlight, strong spice-laced liquors, and the dark recesses of painfully dull existence. Pepijn Caudron has formed a grimy, surreal ode to not only the past, but also what the future might hold, and he lets no one off lightly. Presented in a full color silver and black sleeve. Includes download code.