(06.24.07) This CD is a collaboration. One between an electronica artist and a prog-rock psychedelia guitarist. Admittedly not the usual combination you’d put together, so it was going to be interesting finding out how it ended up and whether there was something new in this meeting of musical minds.
I’m sad to say that for me it’s not ended up so well. Instead of trying to forge ahead with something new they seem to have basically done a cross between psychedelia and early Kraftwerk but with modern sounds. A lot of the tracks on the electronic side don’t move very much and have guitars through lots of effects washing over the top. Personally I think it’s a bit of a shame because if they’d embraced things in a more modern direction it could be a really interesting album as it is, it’s a retreading of old ground with modern sounds and it ends up sounding a little too self indulgent with some of the songs being dragged out way past their lifespan.
There are also a few ambient soundscapes on this album and they’re not too bad but it still feels like there is something missing, something you can’t quite put your finger on and I couldn’t help but find my attention wandering when listening to it. It’s as if the album doesn’t have much in the way of flow and dynamics, each track tends to get to where it aims for then pretty much stays there until they decide to wind it down.
I have to stop now and say that just because this album isn’t to my taste doesn’t mean that it’s not to yours. If the idea of psychedelia mixed with early electronica sounds great to you then this is well made and you may get more out of this. If, like me, the idea doesn’t float your boat then this isn’t for you.
Conundrum is out now on DiN. [Purchase]
