The artwork of Rene Hell’s Porcelain Opera is a photograph of a partially clad woman embracing a statue that appears to be Jesus. Captured by Sasha Wiseman and presented as a faded photograph, the revealed pink stockings suggest an implausible sense of the prurient, while the repression suggested by the crossed legs mirror the suppression of Christ’s hands on the cross. A conscious desire to shock ”“ and love ”“ is incidentally revealed by the choice of the artwork, though nothing explicit is ever inferred. What does Porcelain Opera mean and how does that relate to the recorded output of Rene Hell?Released under one of American noise supremo Jeff Witscher’s many pseudonyms and comprised of a mere six tracks that span a slight 34 minutes, the listener is certainly inclined to ask what Witscher intended to achieve within such a space. Manipulating a variety of analogue instruments in a manner that can be compared to the output of groups such as Emeralds, The Advisory Circle and the solo outing of Imaginary Softwoods, Porcelain Opera is an intoxicating, dexterous, ambient workout deeply amorphous in nature.Shortening the delay times of synthetic stabs ”“ the style of which may have once been found brutalised on the floor of a BBC Radiophonic workshop - to percussive effect; layering maundering words seemingly randomly over warm, rising pads and inserting deliberate dissonance with insouciance makes ‘Porcelain Opera’ an intriguing and compulsive listen. Never stepping out into territory inhabited by fellow label-mates Yellow Swans, Witscher maintains a fine balance between kaleidoscopic melody and inane drone.‘C.G. Mask’ is the only track that could be considered to push the level of white noise into the red, but the entire nine minutes is suffused within a melee of melody. Stand out piece of the album is ‘IV 18:54”² which is a glittering wash of drone lifted by major third and fifth harmonies capable of cutting through the most colourless of days.Those buying the vinyl edition of this record also receive a 12-track CD album entitled Rogue Camera: an album that serves as warm companion to Porcelain Opera which, if anything, is equally as enchanting.Witscher has created a thoroughly invigorating and inspiring record. Well recorded, mixed and produced, it’s a beguiling treat for the introvert.