Sunday, August 21, 2011

Numbers & Letters in Terrascope


Yours truely's favourite on-line magazine Terrascope offers this month a nice review of Numbers & Letters.
A new album by Joxfield? Oh, no, but a classic is a classic (hehe), nothing we can do anything about.
ThanX to Simon Lewis for nice words like these:

"Featuring the talents of Yan and Oax, Oxfield Projex latest offering is a sprawling triple CD-R collection the includes elements of Kosmiche Music, electronics, drone, experimental sounds and psychedelia, all blended skilfully to create a sound of their own. Those wondering about the Terrascope link may be interested to know that Oax is better known as Stefan Ek, whose delightful prose have graced the Rumbles column on several occasions and, hopefully, will do so again.

Moving swiftly on, disc one, entitled “Abstract Numbers” contains 10 pieces of music that feature guitars, synths, efx, samples and various manipulations, each has a similar feel, although there is enough variety to hold the listeners interest, with the stop/start strangeness of “have I Been Here Before” and the bubbly cut-up nature of “A Secret Door” catching my ear, whilst “balinese Jig” contains some excellent guitar noises within its grooves.

Moving on to disc two, entitled “Concrete Letters A-M”, we are greeted by the electronic groove of “In The Garden of Eden”, a Heavy bass line getting your head nodding as a Soprano sax, dances spasmodically around the room. On “Kenji Self-Unit” there is a definite Fripp influence present, whilst the excellent “Electric Apple” is a fine slice of modern psych, with more wonderful guitar playing. To be honest, the whole disc crackles with vitality, the arrangement and melodies ensuring the music shines out, alive and ready to free your mind.

Last but not least, Disc three, “Concrete Letters N-Z”, not only maintains the quality of what has gone before but actually raises it, to my mind the strongest of the three discs. First highlight is “Ruff and Tough”, a glorious wave of noise, guitars and “Wild Organ” competing to out manoeuvre each other over a solid rock beat and burbling electronics, the mood softened by the following track “Mind the Gap”, which shimmers gorgeously, with some great vocal samples adding a devotional edge. This is the perfect bridge between the noise of the previous track and the delightfully relaxing mood of “Shimmering Aohm”, the guitar just drifting in a haze, whilst subdued beats add a heartbeat to the proceeding. After the Kraut-rock roar of “Silent Night-Night Silence”, there is a strong Gong feel to the space-psych of “The Entropy is Strong” which features some wonderful flute playing, the disc finally brought to a close by “No Kro Poh”, a fragile piece with sitar, soft vocals and samples of rain, thunder and fire, sweet ambience indeed.

There you have it, Not only do these guys write for the Terrascope, they also find time to write and record some damn fine music, give them a listen, at least, they surely would appreciate it. (Simon Lewis)"

(http://www.terrascope.co.uk/Reviews/Reviews_August_11.htm#Joxfield)