Cartoon Forest II
Crash Symbols, 2022
9/10
The Pittsburgh trio of Ryan Emmett, Eric Messerall, and Michael Skz, i.e. Cartoon Forest, return with this sophomore album, and it’s an iconoclastic affair that brings organic and synthetic sounds to 8 unclassifiable and captivating tracks.
The aptly titled “Beginning” starts the listen with an ominous, cinematic exploration into sounds that seem like they should be played underwater in a deep abyss, and “The Unknown” continues the imaginative formula with an aberrant form of post-rock that drones a bit and is both haunting and soothing.
“Mirages” lands at the halfway point and swirls with a distinct, eerie melody, while “Wisdom” presents a shimmering mood of psychedelic buzzing in its fascinating electronic manipulation.
“Memories” and “Of Death” exit the listen, where the former is full warm atmosphere in a sci-fi sort of way, and the latter radiates very skilled, noisy tunefulness for 96 seconds.
Cartoon Forest recorded this live, and incorporated a post-industrial theme that brings to mind the sounds of railroads, organs and birds to their inimitable and unforgettable delivery that will make you a fan instantly.
Travels well with: Ben Wheeler- Lurji T’algha; Fletcher Pratt- Dub Sessions, Vol. 5