I might have been deemed an ‘academically gifted and talented student’ and graduated with honours, but I am not ashamed to say it, I don’t think I’m smart enough to appreciate all the finer points of Erotic Secrets of Pompeii.
Let’s take for example, Erotic Secrets of Pompeii’s debut album title, Mondo Maleficum.
Mondo :: noun – Italian for ‘world’, used as a short-hand for Mondo films – a subgenre of exploitation films usually depicting sensational topics, scenes, or situations. (e.g. Mondo Cane, Mondo Bizarro). Adjective – used in reference to something very striking or remarkable or very large or great in amount or number.
Maleficum :: adjective – Latin, meaning ‘of black magic’, ‘nefarious’, ‘noxious’, ‘wicked’ etc.
Is ESOP writing songs about sensational nefarious topics? Are they crafting remarkable magic?
The simple answer is yes.
Listening to Mondo Maleficum, I found myself thinking of how the album, like the television series, Sleepy Hollow, was not only a history lesson but also challenged my thoughts on history and myths. Erotic Secrets of Pompeii takes long held beliefs and spins them on their heads and presents them in a newfound way that is both exciting and refreshing.
For example “Osiris at the Large Hadron Collider”, a song that seemingly sees the Egyptian god of afterlife, death, and resurrection, amongst others at the the Large Hadron Collider. At first, one may think, what the hell, what does an Egyptian god and a particle accelerator have to do with the other, but these ‘what the hell’ moments are where Erotic Secrets of Pompeii brilliantly shines. The song simply looks at humanity’s addiction with mortality, faith, and power and that’s when one realises why Osiris is really there.
On their cerebralness, frontman Thomas Hatwin says,
“On a surface level, we hope that the music is sufficiently catchy and quirky to generate intrigue for even the most casual music-lover, but there’s a multitude of deeper levels if people want to descend deeper into the heart of our world. It’s cool that people have taken an interest in the lyrics with our recent singles, and it means a lot to us!”
Catchy, quirky, and intrigue is an understatement. Mondo Maleficum is a gorgeous trifecta of all three.
The ridiculously infectious, “The Wheel, the Spade, and the Stars in Motion”, “Faustina Filmed in Psychorama”, “Bad Weather at Beachy Head”, and “Utterly Rudderless”, rumble with mouthwatering bass lines that reverberate into beautiful crashing drums, guitars that wail, and lyrics that demand attention through strong and powerful vocals.
While showing a downtempo side of ESOP, “Venus Ascending” with its calling to Hecate has a slow and hypnotic beat that is equal parts a summoning and spell bounding.
Where Erotic Secrets of Pompeii radiates the brightest is the song “Crocodilian”. The song beautifully showcases the strength of the band’s creativity, writing, and musicianship. Thomas Hawtin (vocals), Tom Hackwell (guitar/synth), Sean Jones (guitar), Julian Port (bass), and Jake Cheesman (drums) pour their hearts and souls into the track. The song could be the closing song of their set or the last song before the band returns for their encore. It’s grand, powerful, thunderous, and larger than life.
The tempting rhythms and flirtatious guitars of “Tenderness Has Failed Me” makes me think of Duran Duran while vocally I think of Depeche Mode. The slight tap into the 80s sound works wonderfully with ESOP’s original sound. Had they been in that era. They would have given Devo and Talking Heads a serious run for their money.
Speaking of Talking Heads, I’ve said more than once that Erotic Secrets of Pompeii is this generation’s Talking Heads and the song “Auguries and Auguries” solidifies that though even more. Stalking its prey like an apex predator, “Auguries and Auguries” is another definitive moment on Mondo Maleficum. If there was any doubt on the innate talent of ESOP, it is erased with this song.
While the closing track may be called “The Unstitching of Everything”, it is anything but. It marvellously wraps Mondo Maleficum up into a tremendous ten track album.
Through encouraging others to accept their weird and wonderful uniqueness with Mondo Maleficum, the album and Erotic Secrets of Pompeii are a paragon of artistic and creative excellence and musical perfection.
MUST LISTEN TRACKS: the entire album from start to finish
