Nurse With Wound - Salt Marie Celeste (1 tracks) +Album Reviews

Ghost Ship

Jazz Headcase | Indiana USA | 08/28/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The Marie (Mary) Celeste was a ship that was found abandoned near Spain in 1872. The crew had disappeared without a trace while the ship was intact. Conspiracy theorists abound, and the mystery has never been solved, although there are several possible rational explanations. Fans of the Bermuda Triangle myth should check this out.

The music begins as two droning chords, starting softly and then building in loudness and intensity. Over time, different tape loops enter, one by one. These include what sounds like a ships horn, creaking boards, and a swinging wooden door. Eventually, these sounds drop out and the listener hears the sound of lapping water until the piece begins as it ends, with the two mournful, droning chords.

I don't exactly know how this piece holds my attention for an hour plus. It's very repetitive and reminds me of other minimalist compositions such as Morton Feldman's "Piano and String Quartet" and Gavin Bryars' "The Sinking of the Titanic". Yet somehow, it's spooky Gothic ambience is totally mesmerizing. The mood is interesting because at a time of great peace (boat gently rocking in what appear to be calm waters), there is total despair within that peace. NWW has created a minor masterpiece that can be both uplifting and depressing. Great music for a stormy night!"

Downright creepy- if you allow it....

F. Watkins | Rockville, MD USA | 03/07/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I rarely write reviews- had to add my 2 cents here though. My interest in NWW was recently re-kindled- not sure why, it just happened. Decided to purchase Salt Marie among others to 'catch up.' I am addicted to this disc.

I have to disagree with the other reviewers here. The last thing you want to do with this disc is put it on as background- doomed from the start. It requires an uninterupted hour of your free time to give your undivided attention. Keep an open mind. A stereo system that handles low frequencies well will also help. The fluctuating waves can really be felt if you have the right gear. It may be power of suggestion (I had read reviews before listening), but it really does conjure images of a ship lost at sea, drifting, dark, cold, lonely... Some of the sound loops actually made my hair stand (creaking boards). If melancholy is not your cup of tea (on occasion), or if you lack patience or enough distractionless free time, you will likely come to the conclusion that this CD is repetitive and boring rubbish- something to do house chores to and keep finding yourself in the same rut. On the other hand, if you enjoy a challenge, give it a try. I have not heard 'Salt' from Horse Hospital so I cannot compare that one. Finally, in so far as it lends credibility to my review (or takes it away depending on your point of view), chemicals did not have any part in the above opinion."

Not as radical as it's made out to be

yipyipcoyote | 04/06/2003

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Every new release from NWW is somewhat eagerly awaited by enthusiasts in the 'new music' field. This hour-long piece was supposedly modified from another recent work simply titled 'Salt', released as a limited edition. 'Salt' only garnered a lukewarm reception from listeners, many of whom complained of 'too little going on'. Well there is certainly more going on here than the minimal, repetitive original, but as long, droney pieces go, 'SMC' still sounds less than impressive. Various extra sound samples were employed and repeated ad nauseum - a creaking door and what sounds like humming traffic for example - the water sound towards the end is great but it is too little too late. The piece would have worked better if condensed to about 30 minutes. There is just too little change over the excessive duration to sustain interest, other than provide a slightly cold and eerie atmosphere. Of course, that may be good enough for a lot of us, so if that's what you dig, then go for it. Personally though, I would prefer 'Spiral Insana' or even 'Soliloquy for Lilith' when it comes to the 'ambient' side of NWW."

"I must down to the seas again, to the lonely sea and the sk

Jonathon M. Rose | 04/04/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is quite a quirky album, being of course a representation of being on a ghost ship lost at sea and the lonely sounds and thoughts that a person would experience being alone on an old ship while lost at sea. The Mary Celeste as others have said was a New England ship that set sail from New York, and somehow lost her crew and was eventually discovered a month later by the Dei Gratia near the Azores. The captain's journal gave no indication for what happened, the compass was destroyed and the lone yawl was missing. Numerous hypotheses have been put forth to what happened to the captain, his wife and child and the rest of the crew. The ship was towed to Gibraltar and the finding crew was put under suspicion and trial for piracy though eventually acquitted though rewarded only a fraction of the salvages worth. All that isn't really important to listen to the album, but the background and putting oneself in the position of a person lost at sea is important. I don't often go in for "ambient" music, indeed the only reason I've heard of this band is their association with Current 93, but the reviews and theme of the album intrigued me. Really this album is best for people who love the sea, be it from either coast (I grew up on the coast of Maine, my wife on the coast of Oregon the album touches us both) but the album sounds of salt, and waves and deep fog. The music drones and rises and falls like the waves in a perfect representation of the sea moving a ship, with creaking boards and solemn bells. You might not normally care for quite and brooding disks, but if you love the sea, and live by it or have moved away but miss it dearly this album will touch a nerve deep inside that only someone with that passion will really connect with. With that in mind, it's a perfect album for late at night when you want to drift off into a quiet and dark place that you know and love so well, and in my case currently living in Rochester, NY miss very much...

On a side note at the 9:50 minute mark the album brings in a strange skittering type noise that moves from the right to left speaker. I've tried for over a year now to place what type of sound it is supposed to represent. If anyone happens to know I'd love to find out, it works very well in the album so it doesn't detract from the enjoyment, but still it nags at me since I can't quite place it... In closing this is a beautiful and moody album, very enjoyable and perfectly representing the sounds and moods of the cold and lonely sea.

"

On beyond ambient

John Atwell | Canoga Park, CA USA | 11/27/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I have to agree with what another reviewer said. I don't like ambient. Usually when some piece of music is labeled ambient, I listen to it for about four minutes and then I get fidgety and go watch TV. Salt Marie Celeste is different. The subtle change process is just enough to keep it from being boring. Don't let the other reviewers fool you, this is NOT a drone, NOT just a bunch of tape loops slapped together -- this is a through-composed piece of music that moves inexorably, almost imperceptibly. More importantly, it grabs a hold of the listener -- gently yet firmly -- and doesn't let go. It definitely has an emotional impact, but the emotions are hard to describe. Depressing? No. Melancholy? No. Creepy? Not exactly. It's a deep piece of music in more ways than one. It slowly, relentlessly takes you far away from home. It's a feeling of lostness -- and depending on your attitude this can be either scary or empowering. This is not background music. You will find that the music sucks you in with it. It's way more than the sum of it's parts. By the way, the spelling is wrong on purpose. The title mixes the legend of the Mary Celeste with the city of Sault St. Marie (with Sault changed to salt for good measure)."

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	Nurse With Wound Salt Marie Celeste Genres: Dance & Electronic, Alternative Rock, Special Interest, Pop, Rock Track Listings (1) - Disc #1 Salt Marie Celeste 2003 studio album presented in a lavish digipak. Contains one of the most radical pieces the band has ever recorded. United Dairies.
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