Reviews :Signer: Next We Bring You the Fire - 22 January, Album Review

Ex-Wellingtonian Bevan Smith pokes his head up somewhat, with a tasty little morsel of an album.  This ambient-slanted beat-maker has tended to fly somewhat under-the-radar during his lengthy tenure behind the mixing board, but next we bring you the fire Is a good reminder of Signer’s talent outside of his other band, Over the Atlantic.  And this new release definitely deserves some due attention, in a hybridised genre (Psychedelia/folk/indie/ambient/put your own label here) that keeps on throwing up gem-tastic artists like Bevan or the edgier Dimmer axe-man, James Duncan.

The lack of edge for next we bring is not a criticism - far from it indeed.   It’s merely a statement of fact that the albums pointy bits have been expertly shaved down, rounded and smoothed into a comfortable, yet never flagging, electronic soundscape.  The sparse but accurate use of speedier, more thumping sounds, help to keep the listening-fires stoked, and propel things along at just the right times.

Track We should touch teeth harks back to the beautiful weirdness of the knife, with some strategically placed synth notes working up to roiling drum-work near songs end. It’s a real standout on a solidly plotted CD.

One of my favourite features is the gorgeous vocal work that spans much of the disc, a masculine voice that flirts with the feminine 9 times out of 10.  It’s dreamy to the point of sleep-inducing, but the combined flavours of next we bring will make sure you’re both wide-eyed and wide-awake, throughout the trip of this choice-little-albums sonic flow.

-Darren

Posted Wednesday, January 27, 2010 9:26 AM

Tagged as: review, music, Electro, beats, wellington music, NZ music, kiwi, album

Comments

No comments

 

You need to log in to submit a comment.

Login to Texture.