Album Review: Phil Stiles Vs Shane Aungst – The Anchorhold – Dissolution (Trepanation Recordings)

Influenced by the likes of Nine Inch Nail’s Fixed and Massive Attack Vs The Mad Professor, The Anchorhold – Dissolution is a fresh take on 2021’s The Anchorhold. Where the original charted a progressive path that ebbed and flowed across its runtime, Seattle-DJ Shane Aungst has rebuilt the album from the ground up, remixing each of the pieces and adjusting the running order to create something entirely new.

Phil first encountered Shane when the latter remixed a track for the acclaimed Face the Beat series, produced in conjunction with Side-Line Magazine. The result was not unlike the original Anchorhold collaborations, where each of the guest artists brought something wholly unique to the record, and the pair began talking. Initially, the idea was for Shane to remix one or two songs, but his vision was so compelling that the idea for a grander project formed – a full album remix that would allow Shane to put his own stamp on the whole record. The result is The Anchorhold Dissolution billed as Phil Stiles Vs Shane Aungst.

Of the project, Phil said:

I honestly never expected that Shane would have the time or the interest to create an entirely new vision for the album. When we started talking, it was one of our various late-night rambles and we were chatting about some of the artists that we both love. Perhaps inevitably Nine Inch Nails came up, and we started talking about how amazing it was that Trent was able to present versions of his records that were substantially different and yet really added something to the experience.

The next thing I know, Shane starts sending through these amazing versions of songs from The Anchorhold. Each take offers something different, but what I didn’t release until the end was that Shane had a masterplan, creating a new sequence that saw the songs become increasingly splintered until the molten-vinyl finale of It Follows Me. For me, despite having worked for over a year on the original record, it was like hearing the album for the first time, and I am so happy that Shane was able to create something that took the intent of the original and filtered it through his own, highly individual vision.

Breathing new life into an already strong release, The Anchorhold – Dissolution is a unique offering that combines two talents into something extremely memorable. Where high powered industrial beats meet dissonance, and breathy wanders through the cosmos blends with dark and devious sounding depths.

Its inspirations are many and throughout you can pick out plenty. Yet, the most fascinating thing about this record is to hear how transformed the original album is. Notable still and what it was is still prevalent, however, there is no denying the massive mark that Shane Aungst has left.

Whereas the original Anchorhold had effects, melody and a medley of rock and metal ideas, this remix focuses on electronica and industrial. That does mean it won’t necessarily appeal to all the people that liked the original album. However, the important thing to remember is that’s it not so far removed from the original that it feels strange.

The Anchorhold was a complex and imaginative release, The Anchorhold – Dissolution holds that same high standard. So much so, that you can’t help but think that Shane and Phil’s collaborations might be something worth experiencing again further down the line.

Phil Stiles Vs Shane Aungst – The Anchorhold – Dissolution Full Track Listing:

1. 21H22N2O2 (Shane Aungst Mix)
2. Dance Fucker (Shane Aungst Mix)
3. The Wanderer (Shane Aungst Mix)
4. Sleep Take Me (Shane Aungst Mix)
5. Reflections From An Echo Chamber (Shane Aungst Mix)
6. I’m Not Done Yet (Shane Aungst Mix)
7. End This Way (Shane Aungst Mix)
8. It Follows Me (Shane Aungst Mix)

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