Golden Retriever – Seer (Thrill Jockey)
CD/DL
24 March 2014
Electronic/Acoustic duo, Golden Retriever release their new
album.
Golden Retriever have an interesting concept here. Matt Carlson plays synthesizer whilst
Jonathan Sielaff plays bass clarinet. It
sounds like a recipe for disaster, but it somehow works. The largely high-pitched electronic sound
seems to blend with the wind instrument perfectly and creates some very interesting
results.
Opener, Petrichor apparently creates otoacoustic omissions where two
opposing tones are rectified perfectly within the inner ear. Now, I’m no expert on this, but I’ll admit to
being convinced. These two sounds really
shouldn’t work together but do.
Formed in
2008, Golden Retriever essentially perform a bit of improv. Some of it borders on a sort of electronic
jazz but don’t let that deter you! It’s
certainly not your regular pop chart stuff, and it’s fairly challenging, but to
be fair the final tracks speak for themselves.
There are hints of Jean-Michel Jarre, Kraftwerk and Jon Anderson
throughout, but they really are hints and entirely subjective.
If the thought
of post-jazz scares you then you’d maybe like to avoid Sharp Stones, it screams
over a tinkling piano and to be frank is a little hard on the ears at over
seven minutes long, but in the context of the whole album, it is as it is and
is rescued somewhat by some interesting electronic effects in the second half.
Album
highlight is the gorgeous Flight Song.
Completely airborne and glittering it rises and rises with mesmerising
synth and soaring clarinet. It reaches
out and takes you on a journey of sorts.
Very much film soundtrack stuff and very enjoyable. The tickling electronic are magical.
There’s an
intensity and depth to Seer that makes it very listenable stuff, and whilst at
first it may seem inapproachable you’ll soon be grateful you gave it a
chance.
The thirteen minute closing opus that is Superposition is another
great piece. Completely chilled and
completely enthralling. Combining random
blips and beeps with an almost prog-synth backing, the clarinet again jettisons
the whole track into something almost mystical.
It’s a brave album and a brave concept, and I’m glad I heard it.
8/10
Links
Published on Louder Than War 24/03/14 - here
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