Jim Mroz is no stranger to the darkest dungeons of the human mind. These locked doors of the psyche are a common destination for his project Lussuria, through which Mroz has quietly amassed an impeccable discography. And so another immersive chapter of harrowing music sprouts forth with Under Crumbled Stairs, with Lussuria extending their phantom limbs to touch upon numerous sonic spheres.
While dark ambient and industrial are recurrent battlegrounds for Lussuria, the introduction is taking a more minimal cue. “Viva Voce!” begins constructing an entire sonic realm through field recordings and intricate sound design. It is a musique concrète approach, as the devilish ambiance feels the space. In this scenery, reminiscent of a Thomas Ligotti story, Lussuria weaves together a rich and complex tapestry, from subtle percussive elements to obscure vocal choirs. It is a motif they return to with “The Head of The Modernist,” as Mroz revisits this occult church, an alien domain where the standard hymnal traditions are contorted and distorted beyond recognition.
This spiritual domain is further explored through Lussuria’s dark ambient affinity. The detached, laissez-faire procession of “Moths (Morning Rust)” sets about this mesmerizing journey through, what can only be described as, a state of purgatory. And while fear and dread roam these corridors, there is a sense of wonder that Mroz achieves with moments of “Cetomba” and especially, “The Artificial Freezing of Pompeii.” The subtle melodies make the wheels turn, transforming this black hole into an infernal lullaby. At the moment when it feels like everything is collapsing within a minimal state, or a negative space, the closing track “Devozione Alla Madre Del Dolori” swoops in with an expansive view. While still retaining the minimal instrumentation, the synthetic waves open up and engulf the listener into this grandeur, as the unexpected acoustic guitar notes signal the departure from this plane of existence.
There are still more elements that Mroz touches upon with Under Crumbled Stairs. The sudden turn towards a primal outbreak in “Viva Voce!” reveals the brutal, more visceral side of Lussuria. If that is not enough, the tribalistic overture in “Human Ruins” combines industrial machinations with a dark ambient touch. And finally, the last twist of the knife comes with the deconstructed, dark techno aspirations of the title track. The pulsing theme slowly rises from the dark to complete the harrowing presence, while the dub-infused “Flagellation Star” takes an off-beat detour, moving away from the otherwise lethargic motifs of the record. These subtle touches, and these cerebral additions enhance the multifaced nature of Under Crumbled Stairs, making the record a Daedalian structure where one can lose oneself.
