DOM F SCAB

"Facta"
(Groove Unlimited, 2002)

On his brilliant album, "Facta", Spanish EM artist Dom F. Scab eclipses every other recording in his career so far. This is a highly ambitious piece of work, pushing the envelope of Berlin school music to its limits while never becoming too abstract or too experimental. Of course, this (i.e. revitalizing Berlin school music) has been Scab's domain for some time now. But, on "Facta", he has taken the electronic music genre and infused it with an imagination and ambition that is seldom seen in any type of music.
The liner notes by Pablo Magne detail the imagery, inspiration, and details of musical allegory that lay at the heart of "Facta". In effect, the album is a thematic recording, addressing the concept of humanity's freedom within the context of the tale of a metal bird being freed from the confines of its cage. Using this as his theme, Scab interweaves synthesized exotic bird song/birdcalls throughout the album, mostly in the bridges between tracks.
But the distinctly human feelings of desperation, despair, drama, hope and all the emotions connected with loosing one's bonds permeate the recording throughout all its nine songs.
Musically, Dom Scab once again provides ample, if not compelling and undeniable evidence, that he sits at or near the top of Berlin school EM practitioners recording today. His juxtaposition of classic Germanic sequencing with more melodic elements, evidenced perfectly on the opening cut, "Metal Bird Creation", creates an artistic and emotional tension that takes the listener for a roller coaster ride of highs and lows. Sequenced notes and beats are interspersed with sweeping and melancholic melodies, played out on lush keyboards and counterpointed with twinkling optimistic bell-tones. Diversity of music, yet bound by thematic cohesion, is a constant on "Facta". "Miracle of the Flight" opens with plaintive piano against a somber backdrop of synth washes and a slow tempo bass beat, but eventually erupts in a dramatic crescendo of keyboards and pulsing rhythms and rapid-fire sequenced notes. "Message of Missing Birds" is appropriately haunting, ushered in with a lengthy series of eerie bird-like calls and distorted human vocalizings. The song itself is somber and mysterious, somewhat experimental in nature, but grounded by an underlying series of synth washes and drones so that those who are shy of the avant garde are not dissuaded from exploring the album further.
"Rescue of Hope" is high energy sequencer music - rapid-fire pulses of assorted types of keyboards played out against a background of strange electronic effects. "Dream of Freedom" opens with a soothing cascade of synth notes played against alien vocalizings and soon escalates into pumping sequenced beats and notes accompanied by darker rumblings and noises
underneath it all.
As I explored "Facta" through many listenings, what I became aware of was how Scab had integrated his melodic musical elements with the more dramatic "noise and sound" effects and yet how all of it fit together as one whole. The power inherent in the music throughout all of "Facta" is overwhelming - this is not ambient music in the least. The nine songs don't just ask for your attention - they demand it. And, because of the thematic elements within the recording itself, this is one album that merits your undivided listening and immersion. Sure, if you are a fan of sequencers and electronic keyboards, it's easy to recommend "Facta" to you - you'll most likely love it.
However, this is also some of the most intelligent music crafted in the ambient/new age genres in the last year. If you give yourself over to it, you will be treated to an emotionally rich and complex experience. "Facta" is one of the more ambitious achievements in this genre in quite a while. While I have always considered Scab one of the brightest stars in the neo-Berlin scene of the 21st century, even I was unprepared for the strange new worlds he visits on this CD.
"Facta" is, simply put, an essential album if you have any desire to see where EM is headed.

2003. Bill Binkelman / Wind & Wire