There’s something incredibly weird about this EP, it’s as if the music can’t communicate fully, like it’s been deliberately stifled but that must be the policy…
There’s something incredibly weird about this EP, it’s as if the music can’t communicate fully, like it’s been deliberately stifled but that must be the policy…
http://www.stuartbowditch.co.uk http://www.photogramrecordings.com
This is a paranoid record… and opener Oit is a strange creature; sometimes the beats run over each other and compete for space in a gloopy, sensual manner over this very basic synth chord progression. Luckily the beats (like finger jabs) are rich and give the piece depth and texture and these propel the sound. Everything is suggestive, hidden, obtuse… the melody is there as a backdrop or a colour wash more than anything else.
No Praw is more of a workout but the track rests on the same minimal dubby atmosphere and the same light tonal palette – the sense of paranoia is prevalent throughout, it’s driven by the minor chords and the keyboard stabs and blurps which add a passive aggression and tension to the proceedings. AON is more of a soundscape albeit a bleak one, with swishing percussive elements adding to the minimal dub. It’s quite Zen after a while. You can phase out to this piece but there’s nothing much to hold on to… The most melody to be found on Instant Message is courtesy of a slow building amalgam of plinks, tinkles, stabs and plonks on Snif. Last track Tru Say comes on like Analogue Bubblebath but it soon flexes its muscles and develops out into a low key, meditative dance track.
There’s something incredibly weird about this EP, it’s as if the music can’t communicate fully, like it’s been deliberately stifled but that must be the policy…