On his first album under his own name,
Luis Vasquez takes a different -- but still recognizable -- approach than on his work as
the Soft Moon. A "collection of themes to living in the human body,"
A Body of Errors is an imaginary soundtrack to pain that sounds real. Though this is a break from
Vasquez's main project, the feeling that one can never truly escape one's self dominates the album. There's always been a remarkably physical nature to his music, from its kinetic beats to its raw vocals, so it's no wonder that he depicts the anguish of being trapped in a frail and fallible body eloquently on
Errors' largely instrumental pieces. Though "This Guilt" and "Surgery" recall
the Soft Moon in their pummeling danceability, many of the album's finest moments explore other textures and dynamics. The dramatic contrast between the airy synths and hammering doom of "Under My Teeth" feels new, as does the pairing of hand drums and the brittle, spidery synth melody of "Decomposition (Part 1)." Elsewhere, the corroded tones of "In a Cage" take
Vasquez's love of distortion to extremes; "Poison Mouth"'s heavy, dragging sounds rival
the Haxan Cloak in their creeping unease; and "No Longer Human"'s brooding washes and eerie melody could be a cross between the work of
John Carpenter and
Angelo Badalamenti. As on his other albums, he tempers
A Body of Errors' fear, despair, and anger with the tiniest bit of humanity. "Used to Be," the lone song with vocals, is a surprisingly tender post-punk ballad. "World on Fire" plays like a microcosm of the album, moving from unease to rage before reaching for the light. More of an experience than a set of songs,
A Body of Errors suggests that while escape might not be possible, growth is, and it reveals some newfound strengths from
Vasquez along the way. ~ Heather Phares
