'The Catastrophe Machine' is the latest album from San Franciscan Brock Van Wey recording under the name bvdub, whose massive discography goes way back to 2007 (and before that a DJ in the SF rave scene). There is no way I can keep up with this guy's releases, having reviewed only a few of them in the past. The last one was 'Four Forgetting' on the Sound In Silence label back in 2023, and since then there have been at least 26 releases (most, but not all self-released) and I have no idea what paths/direction bvdub's music has taken since, so this will come as a surprise to me.

'The Catastrophe Machine' is four lengthy tracks hovering pretty close to the 20 minute mark each, fairly typical for bvdub. Beginning with "Collapsed Under Your Lies" we begin in a psychedelic swirl that sounds both retro and modern at the same time. Guitar, vocals and a lot of synth work and electronic effects permeate this melancholy track. As it progresses, I'm noting a good deal of distortion, and I'm guessing this is intentional rather than accidental, but I find it somewhat disconcerting. There is an industrial quality amidst the clatter with church organ drone in the background and the piling on of sonics until it dissipates and morphs into something more minimal and innocent. In a certain sense, I'm reminded of Legendary Pink Dots at their most experimental. Somewhere underneath all the sonic excess there is a melodic theme, but you'll have to strain to hear it. "Infinite Equations" vacillates between sonic overkill and calm passages reminiscent of Pink Floyd in their quieter moments with a strong rhythm component that becomes more evident as the track progresses. To be perfectly honest, some of the sounds bvdub uses on this one are hard on the ears, especially in the percussion department, and so upfront that it defies the concept of "ambient" making it something else entirely.

"Masses In Motion" brings back submerged vocals under heavy synth pads. The melodic theme in this one is more pronounced than previous, and the rhythm (when it finally arrives) is heavier as well, combining breakbeat elements as it moves forward. So far it’s my favorite track on the album, even if it goes on a bit too long. Finally, there is the title track which highlights the contrast between semi-placid ambient synths and bodacious rhythms. Midway through, the music changes to something more tranquil, albeit briefly, a reoccurring feature of this track. I think this album is more for fans of bvdub who are familiar with Van Wey's compositional style than bringing new ears to the fold. Distortion and sonic density can be off-putting to those not particularly interested in its abrasive aspects, and although 'The Catastrophe Machine' is not rooted in the noise genre, some of its elements identify with it. If you want the physical product (CD and cassette, both limited editions) you will need to go to Dronarivm, but if the digital download will do, you can get that directly from bvdub's Bandcamp site.