Death Club 7 - Fata Morgana LP
Words by Sean Tayler
Fata Morgana is the boldest and most ambitious project yet from Brisbane producer and vocalist Death Club 7.
An unsettling darkness blossoms throughout the compelling release. For a majority of Fata Morgana’s progression, Death Club 7 channels the experimentation of FKA twigs, mixed with yearning vocals of Cub Sport, resulting in an eclectic yet impressive package. For an artist that is fairly new to the scene, Death Club 7’s quality production and songwriting is astonishingly good.
The opening tracks, ‘Ride or Die’ and ‘Unbiologic’, are a smooth entry into an album. The glitchy pop atmosphere of these tracks builds a sonic flair that will contrast, dark wave vibe present throughout the structure of later tracks. ‘Cursed Crowns’ displays some of the most malice and brutal production, a track where King reclaims being called a “bitch” in a genre-less spiral of noise. And then there’s ‘Smoke’, an industrial, witchy haze that builds and expands like a drug-induced rave. ‘Smoke’ is disturbing and intense by all accounts, it’s my favourite track on the record and one that captures King’s prowess as a producer; revealing he has no intent to hold back.
Where other artists would falter under the sheer variety of musical influence, Death Club 7 embraces the bizarre; even producing a club beat in an ode to the Ancient Greek poet, Orpheus. The stark nature of each individual track gives Fata Morgana a sense of urgency; with so many different themes competing for attention, the project’s interlude ‘Something You’re Not Telling Me’ is a breath of fresh air. Likewise, the PC music inspired ‘Bridge on Fire’ is a light heartened affair, a track that gives the listener a chance to rest amongst the brutal production elsewhere. ‘Bridge on Fire’ captures the self-assured appeal that King builds over the project, as he decides to burn a bridge rather than salvaging an unhealthy relationship. It’s one of the most genuine moments on Fata Morgana.
Judging from its external, Fata Morgana is a vicious and heart-pounding, industrial art-pop affair. But on closer inspection, there’s so much beauty beneath the surface. Fata Morgana is an extraordinary introduction for those unfamiliar with Death Club 7; the kind of introduction that would make you kick yourself for realising what you’ve been missing out on.
