jon sheffield: it's been so long since i've seen the ocean jon sheffield: it's been so long since i've seen the ocean (tomlab - 2001) It's been so long since I've heard new music from jon sheffield that I was especially looking forward to hearing his newest (being such a fan of his Calves Valves and Shore Hoses)... The decidedly different electronics of it's been so long since i've seen the ocean take some unexpected detours, sometimes bypassing quirky and heading into full-on sonic dementia! Opening track happy aluminum dennis would be a prime example of way-kooky sounds in its every-which-way spew of clanks, clunks, blips and wandering tones. Bright-but-obtuse poptart drifts more lightly (though still quite strangely) on weird wah-wahs and tinkly chimes amid resonance. A prettier kaleidoscope of notes and strums, topics collide precedes intriguingly lovely mess of dear yma, delicately lilting on string samples and littered with little squeakies and clicky rhythmics. whimsican dial turns toward trippy microfunk topped by gusts of harmonica. A radically fractured island tune (with bells and crooning) seems to be awash on waves and rhythmic ripples in the disjointed-though-sweet sounds of tribe (for crow). Jangling strings slip and slur into electronic veils while (down in the cut 'n' paste mix) childlike voices chatter in the disjointed warmth of another sunny afternoon. Similarly-styled antarctica (for Gabriel) (5:37) begins with resonating acoustic guitar strums and odd sputtery accompaniment. The perky blits of oisac (2:52) are layered with quaint old electronic keyboard sounds and twist rivulets of the same. After getting beyond my initial confusion, I've arrived at the theory that it's been so long since i've seen the ocean is a very personal musical outlet for jon sheffield, and the moral to his story is that even when things are reeeally mixed-up sometimes, there is still beauty within... or something like that. But, even for an eclectophile like myself, some moments are dizzying... an overall 8.4. Released on the German tomlab label... This review posted July 31, 2001 AmbiEntrance © 2001-1997 by David J Opdyke (except CD cover art, rights retained by original owners).