The release of All an Richmond’s debut LP for Neo Ouija has been long delayed (due to the label changing distributors this year) and as such, this album has a lot to live up to after the superlative quality of the label’s last two albums.
Sadly, Observe seems to be a slight misstep for the label, and has a distinctly different character than it’s predecessors. This is made even more obvious as the shadow of the beautiful new Neo Ouija compilation Cottage Industries 3 (released this month) obscures it from view.
Observe would perhaps have been better released before both the Xela and Deru albums (as it was originally intended) to serve as a transition from the label’s previous output of glitchy and complex DSP material to the lush and warm climes of moody works from Xela, Deru et al.
That said, there is much to enjoy here and it is worth bearing in mind that the tracks presented on Observe represent much of Allan’s early work, some of which was previously available on mp3.com for some considerable time. It’s also easy to see why Lee Norris (Neo Ouija label-head) chose to release this through his label, as it brings to mind some of the more dusty and ethereal work of Metamatics.
The highlights of the album are real, sky soaring, however. “Tombola” brings to mind the later experimental work of Brian Eno as presented on albums like The Drop where structural and tonal precision are balanced with heartfelt emotion. “Themeshark” rounds out the album wonderfully, it’s sense of melancholy and longing lingering long after it’s fade to nothingness and it’s cleverly converging multiple melodic hooks are what will bring you back to the album. Many other tracks here, however, despite being well constructed with Allan’s trademark ear for addictive melodic structure, sound just a little too similar to one another. The album is earnest and chilly in a rather alienating way, and the scrunched up, freeze-dried washes, percussive rattling and repeated chiming bells become rather wearing after 13 tracks. “Ditto” is rather fun, it’s video game warbles and up-beat nature provides a welcome break from the ponderous tone of the previous tracks.
The album would perhaps work better if it weren’t quite so long. At fifteen tracks and just over an hour in duration, it’s a little much to take in one sitting, which is a shame as the two finest tracks are the last. If these last two tracks and the glorious remix of “Here To Go” on the Metamatics Rewired In My Manor album are anything to go by, then I look forward to hearing more from Verbose.
Many, I’m sure, will enjoy the frost-coated sound of Observe, however, the production, if not the musical composition of the tracks here leaves things rather cold and isolated.
