Reviews 014: Beck, Nash, Reyenga / Scott Gillmore / Ingleton Falls
Despite the presence of Jonny Nash and Tako Reyenga (Music from Memory/Second Circle), I slept on the release of Metaclaw last year. Few reviews properly sold its Berlin school brilliance, and the primary thing on my mind every time I listen is Klaus Schulze circa ‘73-’76. Back in 2018, we have Scott Gilmore’s Another Day. This kaleidoscopic set of 60′s psych, 70′s progfolk, and kraut-boogie on International Feel is Scott’s best yet. The reviews end with another crucial rescue by Isle of Jura, this time from ‘91. Ingleton Falls’ Champagne in Mozambique is a hallucinatory mix of atmospheric dub, meditative balearic, and dark sampling that sits comfortably alongside the more esoteric sides of 90′s chill out and ambient house.
Beck / Nash / Reyenga - Metaclaw (Offen Music, 2017)
The original cut starts in classical kosmische mode with a mesmerizing simple bass arp, fast cascading sequences, kinetic Schulze-indebted primitive drum machines, and cosmic aquatic Rhodes soloing. Eventually, epic analogue string synths enter, soaring and cinematic, until the song gives way suddenly to deep synthetic throat singing drones and sparse bells and chimes. Frenetic drums and industrial bass sounds bubble up under the atmospheric noise, and glassy sequences in bright ascending patterns emerge as ghostly howls and winds of galactic noise overtake the mix. Gordon Pohl’s remix slows things down to a molasses pace, with bass drum smothered in static, three-dimensional snare effects, and the cascading arp of the original here reversed and passed through morphing delay. Hissy cymbals give the beat further structure and the string synths are transformed into a pulsating and rotating hugeness. Gilbert Cohen’s remix sees the bass arp jacked up to hyperspeed, as ritualistic layers of hand percussion, spacey alien chatter and laughter, and loose shaken bells vibrate under brain piercing synth noise.
Scott Gilmore - Another Day (International Feel, 2018)
We are introduced to Gilmore’s latest psychotropic world via the robot funk and poppy weirdness of “Electric Gestures”. The song is a psychedelic push-pull between a smooth kraut-groove with scifi synths and an acoustic guitar shuffle with 60′s pop bass and zooming electronic noises. “Things Forgotten” is brilliant progfolk, drifting pastorally on acoustic guitar and dreamy synths, the vibe periodically interrupted by complex transitions involving harmonization between guitar leads and mellotron. “Lately” alternates between more deliciously lo-fi progfolk with hazy synth soloing and classical leaning sections dominated by the interplay between aquatic piano tones and oboe-sounding synthesizers. The title track ends things back in rhythmic territory with a choppy machine beat chained to an ambient dronescape. Dreamy new age melodies float with zonked out spacey vocoder flourishes, as bright echo guitar leads invoke Shuggie’s “Strawberry Letter 23”.
Ingleton Falls - Champagne in Mozambique (Isle of Jura, 2018)
Side A is titled “Unaware” and is dark and slightly paranoid. “It’s a Hobby” presages Coyote by over a decade with its mind expanding mix of sunny multi-tracked pianos, moody string synths, and trippy samples over funked out bass and a soaring breakbeat. The vibe is dark however, as the spoken word samples concern the psychology of necrophiliacs and other dark topics, forming an interesting contrast with the gliding vibrantness of the music. “Possessed” is an early The Orb-style ambient dub. Mechanical yet adventurous drumming under harsh verb and morphing delay effects, hazy synth bass deep in the mix, shimmering piano in minor key reggae patterns, and psychedelic percussive effects underlay more acidic vocal samples. The side ends with the propulsive “She Felt Love”, led by driving bass guitar and panning metallic sounds. Haunted and heavily effected female singing is looped into pure hypnotism, like sirens calling out across the sea, while a harsher loop repeats “follow Jesus”…heady, weird, and absorbing.
Side B is titled “Aware” and dips its toes into more new age waters. “High” sits firmly in 90s chill out territory, as an addictive vocal loop of “I felt Christ’s high” plays out over delayed looping of acoustic guitar in harp like patterns, rhythmic synthesizers, sunny chiming pads, and subdued hand drums and tambourines forming a simple rhythmic backbone. The island dub vibes are elevated by heavenly sampled choirs, wordless emotional soul singing, and simple piano under aquatic delay that grows increasingly beautiful as the song progresses. “Mind Yer Head” is even further zoned out. This opus of repetitive ambient and new age meditation features warm arpeggios in childlike rhythms alongside calming leads of futuristic sounding organ. Loops of bright guitar chords wash the mix in waves of reverb and delay while cymbals, bells, chimes, and a simple kick lock into a downtempo bliss out…”we want you to be really aware of the rhythm, listen to it, feel it, inside your head…exercise the muscles of your mind and your imagination, tell yourself to relax”.
(all images taken from my personal copies)