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review by Bill Binkelman From the Farfield Records label, previously known more for music that explores the worlds of dark ambient, found sounds, collage, musique concrete, and other abstractions, comes a most pleasant surprise - a collection of ambient tone poems that are diverse yet unified by a constant sense of calm and repose (as evidenced by the album's appropriate title). Kelvin L. Smith explores eleven sonic landscapes that cover a subtle assortment of moods and styles, but all of them contained in the ambient universe. The album opens with the nature-enhanced (water trickling and subtle birdsong) "Freshwater," which features reverberating bell tones and an occasional strummed zither-like sound. The CD moves forward to the warm assemblage of undulating washes and shimmering synths of "Mountain of Light." After that, "Sonosync 58'" "floats" in amidst the sound of waves gently lapping the shore, soon joined by Mychael Danna-like sparse melancholic piano notes, painting a sadly beautiful portrait of loneliness which is further enhanced by the later addition of luxurious synth strings (again, sounding like Danna's work on his brilliant recording Skys). "Aventurine" explores somewhat different territory, as swirls of various pitched whistling synthesizers, shaded with subtle use of a quavering effect, coalesce and then break apart at random. Other tracks on this outstanding CD include the short but effective "Lonely Longing" (a Tim Story-ish slice of darker tinted synthesizer minimalism), the haunting and slightly abstract (well, this is a Farfield release, after all) "A New Land," with fuzzed lower register synths, reverberating bell-tones, and strange noises that come and go, and the starkly desolate electronic wave patterns and drones of "Distance." The CD ends with a song that starts off with nature sounds (bird song) but soon evolves into a sly rhythmic track, kind of like what Jeff Greinke is doing on his latest release (Weather from Another Planet), in that the elements of rhythmic ambient music are combined in a warm and friendly way but flavored with a dash of quirkiness which is thrown into the mix to keep things from slipping into overly "commercial" waters. I'll admit to being shocked when I played Reclining Music the first time. Nick Webb (the man behind the Farfield label) had informed me this was atypical of previous label recordings (ironically, Nick himself composed "Sonosync 58'" on this album). Even given that caveat, I was unprepared for how "pleasant" this CD is, albeit that doesn't mean it's too new agey or mushy. As the liner notes describe it, the CD is "A collection of cliché free ambient tracks for relaxation. Guaranteed free of whale-song and nose-flutes!" I would add to that description "expertly produced, superbly realized, and thoroughly captivating." Fans of minimal electronic keyboard music that still contains some melodic elements will almost certainly enjoy this recording. Kelvin L. Smith has fashioned a rock-solid collection of ambient tracks. Reclining Music indeed! Time to recline in style, I'd say! Recommended! |
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