The opening track of Raime’s Quarter Turns Over a Living Line, “Passed Over a Trail,” is literally scary– like, actually frightening. As in, don’t even think about listening to this shit at midnight by yourself with a candle burning, type of frightening. Raime, the London based duo of Joe Andrews and Tom Halstead, are not for the faint of heart, but that’s okay; I, for one, like being scared. 
I’ve often used words like “dark” and “chilly” to describe new music on this site, but damn, do I wish I could take it all back. Raime will do that to you; their debut is a seven-song collection of the coldest, harshest, gloomiest electro tracks possibly ever made. The duo– who are appropriately signed to U.K. label Blackest Ever Black– subscribe less to modern trends and more to timeless sounds and past styles, including the early 90s rave genre known as jungle. Quarter Turns Over a Living Line is more like a jungle frozen solid by a freak ice storm.
As the album goes on, layers and layers of dark and ominous sounds continue to build, creating an undeniably cinematic atmosphere (these songs could easily soundtrack any sleek, modern horror movie). “The Last Foundry,” at just under six minutes, is monotonous and overtly aggressive in tone, while the heavy bass and scratchy synths of “Exist in the Repeat of Practice” recall the creepy phenomenon of the television turning suddenly to black-and-white fuzz. Each track is a different piece to a peculiar and terrifying puzzle.
However, there’s an undeniable appeal throughout even the darkest moments of Quarter Turns Over a Living Line. It’s easy to lose yourself in the hypnotic “Soil and Colts,” which passes over its listener like a grim yet unexpectedly gentle wave. A true– albeit small– respite arrives in the lighter “Your Cast Will Tire,” which feels like a bursting ray of sunshine in comparison to the tracks which came before it. Party music for your next big gathering? No, Quarter Turns Over a Living Line isn’t that. But, in solitude, there’s light to be found in event the blackest of black.
3.5 / 5 bars
