I’ve been meaning to review this one for SO LONG I’m actually relieved more than anything to finally put pen to paper on “One Scythe Fits All,” a 7-inch slasher-soundtrack platter with more character than Jason himself. Composed by Greg Wilkinson (Brainoil, Gumshoe fave Pig Heart Transplant) ) and Jon Kortland (also of PHT, and of Iron Lung Recs itself), “Scythe” doesn’t fit any of the compartments yr standard ‘ITALIAN HORROR’ muzak will snuggle violently into. This ain’t Goblin, in other words. Its genre range is much too diffuse, its quiet explorations, while seething under the surface, exhibit a warm patience and steady hand. Wilkinson and Kortland clearly can do no wrong together, and as simple as some of these cutz are, a few of them nothing but a crude beat and synth line, there’s an unseen depth, like a puddle you stick your hand into until you see it wriggling on the other side of a time portal. A few themes repeat, which is kind of a drag considering the short 7-inch runtime, but the glorious, so-dark-red-you’ll-have-to-hold-it-up-to-the-light vinyl and overall slant of the project won’t leave you hanging (unless you want to end up dead; THAT it can do). I know I give the Iron Lung label a shout-out every month or so but they are the BEST, dawg. Also, this is the first colored-vinyl release of theirs I’ve seen, and it’s gorgeous. Hopefully we’ll see more of that in the future, not to mention more of the same from Wilkinson, Kortland and the entire IL family. Seattle’s back (it never left).
More about: Greg Wilkinson / Jon Kortland
