aspen: music from passing cars

asp-mfpc.jpg (14k) aspen: music from passing cars
(Involve - 2000)

Settle back for a leisurely ride down the winding roadways of aspen's mind, and listen to the music from passing cars...

Subtle unexpectations mark the route through various subdued-though-vibrant regions of sound... from purely ambient zones to beat-driven numbers, with many musical sites (and quirky track titles) along the way.

Slowly emerging from silence, faint electronic textures flutter and flow as music from passing cars hovers in a suspension. The volume is turned up a bit for music from passing cars rehashed and spattery beats and minimalistic bass are then added to the simmering mix. Slightly twisted chimes warble dreamily as ice cream in bath water recieves a topping of intriguing little rhythms.

Faded guitar strums and electronic waves sway gently through doodling banana car with relaxed-though-peppy e-beats popping all around. Upon hearing the beautiful bubbling notelets and rhythms, one wouldn't expect the short-but-sweetly-beaty piece to be entitled, dropping bombs on the pet rug (2:08)... but it is.

Shimmering feedback energies billow underneath the micro-computerhythmics and bleepily twinkling tinkles of this track will ruin you for other men. Jangling guitar strings riff through running riches, encountering sparse organ-notes and spacious beatronics. Wavering semi-atonal strands churn in the air above frozen soy milk experiment; slightly rough beats texturize the soundwaves... extending into a self-explanatory continuation, now with bassline.

Dreamlounge drum-and-keys atmospheres are forged in car Hierarchy (8:32) where everything is coated in misty drizzle. Distant guitar feedback lingers for a few minutes before an untitled closing piece does its thing with chimes and drums.

The 14 tracks of music from passing cars embody a perfect mix of electronic experimentalism, rhythmic effects processing and laid-back arrangements. This appealingly eclectic 69-minute audio-excursion earns its 9.3 for its dreamlike surreality, subtly glitchy e-percussion and its very relaxed/relaxing attitude. Cool stuff!

See this month's interview with aspen to learn more about these seductive sounds from Involve.

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This review posted May 31, 2001

AmbiEntrance © 2001-1997 by David J Opdyke (except CD cover art, rights retained by original owners).