We were introduced to the darkly consuming sounds of He Is Me a month ago with “Let It Drip“, which showed a distortion-friendly and vocally emotive sound that wandered in a similar realm to Tool, Nine Inch Nails, and Aphex Twin. “Drowning Man/Ocean Man” wanders that same world, with collaborative project between Portland-based songwriter and musician/producer Casey Braunger and Calgary, AB-based songwriter/vocalist Steve Moore working off creeping guitar distortion, ominous synths, and creeping vocals that show a chilling nonchalance over words like “swim, swim, swim with the drowning man / cut into me late, if you can.” This particular moment reminds nicely of darker efforts from The Fall, Mark E. Smith’s post-punk group, with a dark sort of hypnotic allure.
