(03.17.07) This review has been really difficult. Mainly because several listens in I’m still not sure of what to make of this album. With Hinterlands, Kostas Karamitas has created an album which can only really be described as a cross between dark ambient and dub with a few jazz and vocal flavors added to sparkle the mix up.
On paper it’s a really interesting idea, in some ways dub and dark ambient do compliment each other and go for some of the same emotions so I was interested to see how this worked out, but I can’t help the feeling that it’s not quite there, it’s close but not 100%.
The annoying thing is (and it’s why this reviews been so damn hard) that I’ve developed a real love/hate relationship with this album. There are some listens where this album really hits the spot, gets right in the pocket and I just relax and nod my head as my mind flows with the warmth, rhythm and atmosphere and listens where it just annoys me and I want to throw it out the window.
For example, the bass. They have this really amazing bass tone, really dubby and smooth but also with that over-driven grit on the top end which helps it growl along. But the basslines are all pretty much keynote drones, with the odd other note put in to remind you it’s there. And there are times when this feels like the best thing to do and it complements everything that’s going on really well but on other listens you just want the bassist to play
a real meaty dub bassline because a proper dub bassline can just be the best thing your ears will ever hear and when it doesn’t appear, you get sick of
the constant unsatisfying hum when there could have been so much more. But being a bass player I’m a bit biased in that respect.
The album is really well produced, thought out and put together but if you’re going to merge a couple of genres it’s nigh on impossible to get the
absolute best elements of both out. When it works it really works, for example on the epic, sprawling “Morning Star” which is a perfect example of when the repetitive simple bassline really really works and the beautiful crisp drums, textures and the like all weave together to form a great pattern which makes you sink into the armchair with a smile on your face. But when it doesn’t it can really grate on your nerves and push your patience to the limits.
For anyone who really likes the idea of a mix of dub and dark ambient I’d suggest you pick this up straight away, get yourself in the right frame of mind and this is a diamond. For other people this may or may not be your cup of tea. As I’ve said it’s well done but it does require a lot of patience.
I’m glad I own it and it will be listened to every so often but it’s unlikely to hit my top 10 of 2007.
Hinterlands is out now on Low Impedance
- Low Impedance
- Tokyo Mask
