Hello
world. It's Friday, and that means that, officially, senior project is
handed in and my life no longer needs to be engulfed in John Cage.
Though as far as engulfing goes that's not half bad, but having to
write and hand in the 85 pages was, well, taxing, and I'm damn glad
it's over... The major plus of course is that I can get back to some
semblance of consistence with regard to reviewing, which is exactly
what I'm going to start doing right now, as there's a shit load of
stuff waiting around for the review treatment. So much actually... I'm
gonna have to get to plowing through here, but I can say that soon
there'll be some more Stunned reviews up for the new batch, which is,
of course, just as amazing as they always are. Plus a bunch of other
stuff from an endless list of amazing labels.
Figured I'd
start out with this one though, as it's been sitting on the back
burners for a while despite its serving much accompaniment through the
dark times that were these last few months. Sent to me by Tynan over at
DNT (Sean McCann and Psyched Punch reviews on the way shortly as well),
the record was co-released with Abandon Ship (Time Life plus more
reviews from them on the way too!) and a new label out of California
called Abaddon. Anyway, the three way action is well served by these
two, as each presents one side and one piece of expansive excursions.
The
first side belongs to Gunn, whose done some great solo work as well as
stuff with GHQ and Zac Davis along the way. This is easily the best and
most complete example of his vision yet though, subtly mixing folk
guitar ramblings with drone, percussion, and an almost jammy bluegrass
vibe that isn't so much about drifting through space and reaching
towards the cosmos as it is about slowing the pace and reaching for the
cosmos (the beverage that is...). Actually naw, that's not true, this
is way more lie back in the field with scotch in hand material. The
whole work takes its time too, building toward a gentle intersection of
lines looped over and through one another with ad eft compositional
touch. Almost a Moby Grape vibe here with the guitar angles, but far
less song-based and more patient. A relaxing and rambling summer hummer
that'll have you reaching for the wheat grass and the weed grass all at
once. Gunn definitely has a knack for sounding like no one else, and he
never subscribes to standard modes of "experimental" guitar, instead
appearing for more focused on perfecting his distinct sound, and it's
refreshing to here an artist with such a voice further pursuing his
vision.
If Gunn's side was a slow-mo stomper for the coming
months, McMillen's is the incoming Winter air which, when meshed with
the warmth, is sure to cause some odd weather patterns. Not strictly
using guitar, McMillen (who's played with Warmer Milks) also pulls from
piano, tapes, synth, and from the sounds of it some small percussion
tactics to create a weird and disparate little composition that goes
through a ton of zones. One moment there's a strange synth garble below
some almost Chopin-style piano flourishes (though far more aimless of
course...) before getting increasingly distorted with an incoming choir
of both people and bird chirps. A lot of weird spaces here, none of it
is too claustrophobic which keeps it eerie without slipping into
cliched modes. Some of this stuff even gets a bit dream-like, as
shimmering sounds and voices meld together in building toward some
distant and odd realm. Really effective stuff, and a great opposition
to the single-minded side of Gunn. Despite its differences though, it
feels just as carefully constructed and cared for, ultimately
displaying just as effective and complete a voice as the counterpart on
side one.
Nice LP, two great pieces from two dudes worth keeping
an eye on. If this is any indicator, Abaddon's off to a great start and
DNT and Abandon Ship are already well versed in this kind of production
quality. Nice work from all parties here.
Posted by
Henry Smith
at
10:49 AM