(02.16.09) Corydon & Manjrekar, Jack Marchment’s second album in Benbecula’s ongoing Minerals Series sees him progressing and building the sound he first developed with Recordings in 2006. Melding smooth techno rhythms and crisp electronics with sampled sounds and occasional forays down strange pathways, Marchment develops a style of his own. Not to mention his miss pelt homage to his hometown of Croydon in London and his odd fascination with Indian cricketers of a certain era whose names form the album’s title.
At first, his style is confusing as although his music is recognizable as ambient techno at its core it is overlaid with some fairly unrelated electronic experimentation. On one hand it is smooth, lush and laid back but on the other it is full of weird electronically created sounds, sampled voices and trance inducing psychedelia. The more mainstream and recognizable aspects of his music are contrasted with crisp metallic chimes, floating elastic synth tones, glitchy beat fragments or short experimental freakouts. The end result is slightly disorientating at first as it is unclear what the focus should be on – the familiar or the strangeness in the periphery. Inevitably, the attention is drawn to the unexpected whilst holding on to the core, the result being aural confusion between the sounds. Once acclimatised however the tracks start to take on a life of their own and the pieces start to fall into place. The two initially disparate and apparently conflicting elements start to become a coherent whole and the layers start to unravel. Take “Dolce stil novo” for example; traditionally styled glitch ambience with a gentle sense of melancholy quietly pervading throughout. In contrast, “Gragnolati” which follows it is entirely more hi-tech, jittery and energetic, perhaps depicting the hectic non-stop lifestyle of the modern electronic age. “Gavaskar acid and polo” is different again, mixing clinically sharp beats with retro analogue chimes to contrast the old with the new, throwing in some found sounds and electronic weirdness for good measure. Closing the album is the catchy and potent “Distractions,” a fittingly titled track with goose-like electronic sounds, an addictive rhythm and deep bassy break that you will find yourself inadvertently humming hours later.
Corydon & Manjrekar is an album that needs a little time to reveal its depth. At first it may seem like a slightly disjointed collection of ideas but it does start to become clear that there is some thought behind the Marchment’s unique stylings given time to tell their story. It may take a little time and patience but it will start to make sense if given the opportunity of a few repeat listenings. Maybe not to everyone’s taste but if nothing else it offers some interesting ideas for the further progression of his sound in the future.
Corydon & Manjrekar is out now on Benbecula.
