Crommie; Daniel: BLuE.MICROdOT.BREAKFAsT

The mightily prolific and eclectic Daniel Crommie returns for his fourth album in under three years (not including collaborations), with his focus returning fully to electronic music. Crommie himself describes the rather oddly titled BLuE.MICROdOT.BREAKFAsT (which is a download only release), as a "Psychedelic ambient work, designed as a continuous listening experience" and to be fair that is an extremely accurate portrayal of this album.

Short atmospheric bursts of birdsong and piano are merely included on this album to break up the relentless, if at times subtle electronic beats and rhythms, which are continually embellished with plaintive keyboard and synth melodies - some of which are captivating, some of which are unnerving. Taken as a whole, as Crommie intendeds the listener to do, this album is a deep and dark journey that feels claustrophobic in the extreme and while the sparse and at times simple ideas are surprisingly tuneful, this is never feel good music. On previous albums some of Crommie's ideas, while based on electronic rhythms and pulses, have been augmented with organic instruments and the odd vocal and I have to say that while the introduction of these elements to BLuE.MICROdOT.BREAKFAsT would undoubtedly alter the feel, mood and in the end, direction of the music, something more tangible is at times desperately needed to avoid it all tumbling in on its own earnestness. Unlike the likes of Jean Michel Jarre, or Klaus Schulze, Crommie never offers up a melody line, or motif that hooks you in with the hope that it will reappear. Instead this album seldom varies and suffers from each song barely differing in pace, or approach from start to finish. I can't say that I haven't enjoyed listening to BLuE.MICROdOT.BREAKFAsT, but then there's little that ensures you are desperate to hear it all again.

A little snoop around the net reveals that Daniel Crommie is hoping to move into music for films and I have to say that this sort of musical output would be perfect for that medium, as I could see it adding atmosphere and clarity to that style of imagery – and vice versa.

Track Listing
1. Going Under
2. Gessp Noir
3. Steamside
4. Mantra In 4/4
5. Verbana
6. Sedna's Sister
7. Attack/Release
8. Factory Of The Dead
9. Recurrence
10. In Flux

Added: November 15th 2011
Reviewer: Steven Reid
Score:
Related Link: Daniel Crommie MySpace
Hits: 2127
Language: english

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