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review by Brian Voerding Oh, Scandanavians and their ponderous, pretty harmonies, their tepid, twinkling melodies, and their surreal, scandalous soundscapes. Well, forget the scandalous part, at least. Alliteration got the better of me. Instrumental artists living on the cusp of the Arctic circle almost seem pre-destined to produce cold, detached compositions filled with dynamic swells and airy melodies. Swedish artist Stephan Lundaahl, operating under the moniker of Omnimotion, has hardly escaped such fate in his debut, self-titled release. The record is a steady stream of simple, organic beats and shimmering textures. Pipes converted into percussion instruments ring hollow in place of snare drum snaps. Twinkling melodies rise and crest over quiet, pulsing drones. The occasional soprano voice melts into the mix, calm, without vibrato. The wind blows and the flute plays. Samples appear out of nowhere, often of city noise. This record is ambient mood music. There's nothing too enthralling or captivating here, and if you're a headphone junkie looking for constant stimulation from moving parts and melodic alterations, take your head nods and hipster bags somewhere else. However, if you managed to escape the throngs of vapid party-goers rushing in mass exodus from your apartment complex on Friday night and you're looking for a mellow escape, a soundtrack to a bottle of cheap wine and whatever follows, then Lundaahl's done well by your account. |
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