The last year has been very successful for This Morn’ Omina. This Belgium ritual-techno/tribal-trance act had released several albums before last years 7 Years Of Famine. The clubhit ‘One eYed Man’ has certainly helped to establish the acts name, but the success is mainly due to the quality of the whole album. Well-known, and respected, label Ant-Zen has re-issued the album this year so it is available again (it was originally released as limited edition).
The new double album Le Serpent Blanc ~ Le Serpent Rouge is also released by Ant-Zen. The first thing that is evident about this new cd (cd 1) is that instead of one potential clubhit there are three on the disc. On the previous album there where several danceable tracks but the intro was often too long and the structure not clear enough for the dancefloor. The new tracks ‘Epoch’, ‘(The) Ninth Key’ and ‘The Immutable Sphere’ are much better structured (for the dancefloor) and have a clear break (for the dj’s).
Next to these songs the greater part of cd 1 is dancefloor friendly and in the hard ritual-techno style that sets This Morn’ Omina apart from other techno outfits. The harsh beats and tribal percussion and sounds are like trance inducing Shaman-techno.
Cd number 2 is more quite and ambient orientated. The tribal rhythms are still present but the harsh beats are left out. But it would be too easy to look at disc 1 as the dance cd and and at disc 2 as the easy-listening record. The first cd is also very suitable to just listen to. There is a lot happening within each song and the mysterious atmosphere of the tracks work very well. On the other hand there are some danceable rhythmic tracks on cd 2, like ‘Aries’ and “Sagittarius’. If you are lucky enough to get your hands on the limited edition you will be pleased with another 3” inch cd with edits of the three potential club hits. Next to that there is the rhythmic tracks ‘Obeah’ on this disc, which is a joint effort by This Morn’ Omina and their side-project Empusae.
Le Serpent Blanc ~ Le Serpent Rouge is very simply stated an excellent record. The combination of harsh dance music and ethnic influences is very well done. This Morn’ Omina has accomplished to make electronic music sound very natural. This record has to be heard, it is one of the best records you will hear this year.
