Unforgiven Machine by Javi Cánovas

'23Fish - Unforgiven Machine'. This album features Javi Canovas with David Parades. 'Nightwatchers' starts very sci-fi like in the 1950's film 'Forbidden Planet'. It is as if the 'Krell generators' are coming to life! Sound effects accompany heavy atmospherics and restrained guitar is briefly introduced after 5 minutes adding anticipation. Powerful sounds and tinkling effects are added and a rhythm slowly builds louder and louder, finally taking the lead. After 9 minutes a second rhythm joins in as they interlace with each other with effects, this is seriously groovy stuff! A sequence bounces along between my ears on my headphones and a lead line fills my head. Wonderful! Towards the end of this track it eases back into atmospherics, fading out at just under 17 minutes. 'Underground Voice' starts with strange noises and voices with effects. Quite haunting as if they are communicating a warning that they know you are here in their domain! That generator from the 1st track starts up again and a heavy ambient soundscape creates the feeling that you are lost in a cavernous world, a nightmarish place! Then a guitar plays along adding subtle drama. After a few minutes a relaxed atmos' returns. At over 10 minutes a sequence is introduced with effects, then another rhythmic sequence hurtles forward rapidly, this is very hypnotic stuff, then POW! a huge bassey sequence stomps all over the top, absolutely awesome! Now my whole body has been taken over by this sequency brilliance running up and down the scale of notes. Guitar effects come in at about 16 minutes and the volume cranks up to the max' and we are in sequencer heaven! At just under 17 minutes it morphs into atmos' and rapid guitar strumming to end the track at over 20 minutes. Wonderful track! 'Architeuthis' starts with strange and powerful machine sounds as if faulty connections and sparks are flying around. No wonder this album is called 'Unforgiven Machine'! An ambient and heavy atmosphere is created and it sounds as if the machine is alive! Just after 5 minutes we are teased by some rapid notes that quickly turn into a melodic sequencing, then a second one teases us in crescendos of notes, a third one is added and before you know it a heady brew develops. I imagine now flying through the air in an alien landscape in a state of euphoric trance! This piece is growing into the best part of the album so far. Fantastic! Amost 16 minutes in and it briefly backs off for a respite with some ambience, then effects come back with rhythmics and sequencing to a new peak! This album is improving all the time. Finally it fades into ambience and clocks in at 20 minutes of amazing berlin school! 'The Twenty Six Gills Man' starts with piano and guitar then a synth sound is introduced, all quite relaxing comings and goings with the synth. I am really enjoying the tranquillity created, then after nearly 6 minutes a rapid sequence takes over with effects, then more of both, a really heavy bassey rhythm comes along and dominates being replaced soon by a higher register version of it. More sequency effects are added and it becomes quite a heady brew that builds and peaks. A more rapid sequence, more synth' sounds and effects keep happening leading to a huge wall-to-wall of berlin school heaven and above! At nearly 16 minutes it melts into atmospheric sounds and ambience. I then hear indistinguishable voices in a foreign tongue. A strange way to end this 20 minute track and finish the album! As I listened to this album it just got better and better. Well recommended!.
Review by Geoff Mason.

Javier Cánovas is a prolific electronic artist from Santa Cruz de Tenerife. J.Cánovas has worked on his take on Berlin school inspired style since around 2005, but is also since active in other similar ambiental projects like 23FISH with David Paredes and Audiometria with Miguel Justo.