(03.10.07) The debut from Danish trio Badun is probably best summed up as “fiddly.” The press release makes references to the fusion band Weather Report and the deliberately noodly electronic jazz duo Flanger, both of which are very clear and useful reference points for what this album sounds like, but neither of which I find particularly appealing.
The majority of the tracks are based around microscopic slivers of drum sounds, moving in fast and unpredictable rhythms. While a mix of keys, guitars, and tuned percussion provide chords and melodies, and basslines from time to time approximate some kind of hook, the tracks are so wilfully avoiding repetition that the net result somehow winds up being very ambient.
Perhaps there’s so much information it’s difficult to focus on the details, but I think it’s more that this music is so focused on details itself that it’s very hard to tell where you are in any given track, or in fact which track you’re even listening to. Despite repeat listens I’m not sure I’d be able to tell you what makes one track different from another.
There are a couple of exceptions, such as the more memorable “EF10.” The hi-treble electronic percussion scratches and spurts away over live-sounding brushed snares, but peaceful electric piano chords are given prominence, and are complemented by a sedate sitar lick and samples of a woman singing. It’s damn nice.
As a whole Badun’s debut album does make really enjoyable background music, and if you are interested in either fusion or the drill’n’bass proponents of the late 90s then you will probably find more of interest here than I did.
Badun’s debut album is out now on Rump.
