Disco4 :: Pt. II

On the second part of HEALTHs ambitious collaborative project, the Los Angeles trio works with another wide array of artists. Where Disco4, Pt. 1 found them trading sounds and ideas with primarily indie and electronic acts that included 100 gecs, Xiu Xiu, and Soccer Mommy, DISCO4 :: Pt. IIs guest list is dominated by artists from the worlds of metal, industrial, and rap. As in the first part of the project, this collection lets all the parties involved stretch their artistic muscles a bit. While HEALTH have never been a one-trick pony, theyve evolved from a noise-rock outfit into something just as cathartic but with more shades in their music. They take listeners on a wild ride as they further explore sounds they might allude to on their own albums, while keeping the themes they do so well -- disgust at the world, heartache, and self-loathing -- front and center. Theyre also gracious collaborators who easily balance their approach with those of their guests on tracks as different as the brooding Poppy duet "Dead Flowers," or "Cold Blood," a dark and frenzied team-up with Lamb of God. This feeling of creative give and take applies to every track, whether HEALTHs guest stars are famous or deep in the underground. "Isnt Everyone," their seething collab with Nine Inch Nails, balances Trent Reznors snarl and Jake Duzsiks insistent whispers ably, while "Murder Death Kill" puts the deranged screams of Black Dresses Ada Rook and the raw-throated delivery of Denzel Curry associate Playthatboizay up front, with Duzsik providing moody backing vocals. DISCO4 :: Pt. IIs other forays into rap and hip-hop also work remarkably well and span a number of approaches, from the zombie-like crawl of the Backxwash and Ho99o9-featuring "Gnostic Flesh/Mortal Hell" to the mournful post-punk-meets-hip-hop fusion of "Still Breathing" with EKKSTACY. HEALTHs collaborations with artists closer to their own wheelhouse provide several more of DISCO4 :: Pt. IIs highlights. These include the dead-of-night throb of "Excess," which features Perturbator (the only guest artist to appear on both volumes of the Disco4 project), the destroyed majesty of "AD 1000" with the Body, and "The Joy of Sect," a team-up with Street Sects that pushes HEALTHs version of heartbroken synth pop to its prettiest and ugliest extremes. When Duzsik and company finish DISCO4 :: Pt. II with the surging solo track "These Days 2.0.2.1.," they complete an impressive project that brings illuminating new perspectives to their music -- and perhaps some more artists to their listeners attention. ~ Heather Phares