Nord is the second CD release from Imminent Starvation (Oliver Moreau), and presents examples of some of the most polished sound and interesting listening from this noise artist. Nord uses a much cleaner sound than Human Dislocation (the debut CD) or Imminent Starvation’s other vinyl releases, and to good effect. The elements that attract fans of Imminent Starvation — the harsh sounds built into layers of a compelling technoid soundscape through repetition, percussion, and tweaking — are still there. However, the sound design on Nord seems more focused, and each voice seems better designed, arranged, and deployed. This new formula works very well on some older Imminent Starvation material that appears on Nord; “Lost Highway 45″ has been reconstructed into “Lost Highway (Exit)” for this release. The noises that build the soundscapes may be familiar, but the construction of sound itself is very different. The completely new material is equally memorable and challenging, varying from the piercing “Nor” to the brutally intense and dancefloor-friendly “Ire.” The compositions on Nord are completely satisfying — proving that subtlety and complexity are not opposites — and demand much repeated listening. Fans are bound to identify this as an important release for the artist, while new listeners are best advised to use this album as a starting point. – Theo Kavadias