A Must Have Rhythmic-Industrial Album About Post 9/11
M. Mierzwa | Davis, CA USA | 01/26/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"About the Band:
C/A/T (simply pronounced cat) can be described as a rhythmic ambient industrial project. Originally hailing from Northern California, Ben Arp got his start as a film and soundtrack engineer and radio / club DJ in the mid to late 1990s. Following Sep. 11, 2001, C/A/T originally acted as a vehicle for Arp to express his feelings about the changes in American society, and as such C/A/T can be characterized by the political nature of the samples used in the songs.
About the Album:
The 18-minute long Worldwide Totalitarian Control EP is C/A/T's first release. While the track "Reaction (Official)" (also dubbed by Kat C., who joins Arp in live C/A/T performances, as the "Orange Alert Song") is sure to please fans of Art Bell and/or John Stewart, the strength of the EP really lies in how Arp follows an emotional evolution of American society following these tragic events through all four tracks. Reaction (Official) is easily the most popular and dance friendly of the tracks.
I connect the most with the first track, "Problem", which features samples taken immediately following the World Trade Center attacks. The track is remorseful and sobering. It completely captures the way I felt on Sep. 11 (a day that no doubt is burned in the minds of many people) - sad and helpless.
The next track "Reaction (Human)" sounds nothing like the third track "Reaction (Official), and again accurately has recreated my post 9/11 feelings. At the time, I was nervous and wanted to do something to help the victims and rebuild.
The final track "Solution", which features numerous political opinion samples, isn't really an end in and of itself, but an audio suggestion that we are still going to be dealing with the aftermath of our response to the problem. The album theme "Problem-Reaction-Solution" is repeated several times throughout this track. It serves as the perfect jumping point to the next C/A/T release, The Prisoner, which is a much more detailed exploration of post 9/11 American politics.
Personally, this EP is my favorite C/A/T release and one of my favorite albums period. I've even bought and shipped the EP to other friends whom are only moderately interested in ambient industrial music, hoping to share what I honestly believe is one of the most remarkable pieces of art I've come across.
Similar Artists:
Ah Cama Sotz, Black Lung, Empuase, Kattoo, Mlada Fronta, Monolith, Sleepwalk, This Morn' Omina, Yelworc
"
Track Listings (4) - Disc #1