Baker, Steven: Lunar Etudes - Time Differentials

Steven Baker's areas of expertise are instrument building and sound installations. His debut album entitled Lunar Etudes – Time Differentials is an exercise in drone/ambient music. All of the instruments used were built and performed by Baker and include chalice, microtonal drone, leaf springs on daf and boss DD-20 digital delay, save for the cornish pump organ played by Thollem McDonas on the second track. If I am to be honest, all of the songs presented here sound too similar to my ears and lack the instrumentation even ambient music needs to succeed. For me, the problem lies in the seemingly lack of variety among these five songs. The droning sounds become too monotonous and do not provide enough substance on which an entire album is to be based. Because these songs sound so similar it would be pointless to describe them individually. There is also an inherent lack of melody with this music that must be addressed.

I am sorry if this sounds harsh but this is an album I cannot recommend. I will give the artist kudos for creating everything himself; the instruments, production, even the artwork, but that is not enough to save this album. If you are a fan of drone music by all means give this one a try, but for everyone else proceed with caution.

Track Listing:
1. Perigee Dirge
2. Radio Below
3. Almost Far
4. Plumb Deed
5. Still Near

Added: March 15th 2009
Reviewer: Jon Neudorf
Score:
Related Link: Record Label's Website
Hits: 2042
Language: english

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