CHLLNGR –
Form Of Release (No Time No Place Records)
DL
Out Now
Danish
artist, producer and multi-instrumentalist releases his new album.
Steven Jess
Borth II is a clever man. A clever man
for making an album like Form Of Release.
At first sounding like it might just sound like every other album,
released every other week, by any other artist, it quickly transpires not to be
the case.
Borth has
taken influences and sounds from pop, soul and trip-hop and amalgamated them
with elements of space dub to make an album that is as original as it is compelling. Give it a couple of listens and it will also
register as being the fine album that it is.
The secret
seems to be in the sparseness and emptiness.
Borth creates incredibly addictive tracks by using equal amounts of
atmosphere as he does instrumentation.
Album opener, For The Books starts sounding like synthesized water
dripping in a dark cave. When vocals by
Josiahwise Is The Serpentwithfeet come in it maybe sounds like a standard modern-day
pop-soul effort but the backing, unpredictable that it is, lifts the otherwise
ordinary tune.
Where the
album becomes special is in the varying tones and environments that combine to
create the entirely enthralling soundscapes.
Fall could be just any other song, but the use of interesting effects
and vocal treatments lifts the simple songs, and this is the key to the success
of all eleven tracks.
Form Of
Release is as much about the silence as it is about the voices and the
multi-layered instrumentation. When
Borth goes for a full-on commercial effort in Yes (watch out Pharrell, there’s
a new kid on the block!), he still manages to partly fuzz vocals and add lovely
dubs, simulated brass sections and scant backing.
With further
contributions from Doctor Echo, DELS and Grace Hall (Skin Town) amongst others,
the album is kept fresh and unique. Art
& Science could almost be Prince straining his own inimitable tones across
yet another intriguing track. Each sound
is clinical and perfectly timed.
What You
Used To Know has an electro moon stomp with a hook that might remind you of a
TV advert (but not just any advert……).
It’s lazy and impacting and entertaining. Waiting contains a repetitive chant and a
male voice not dissimilar to at moments to that of Nina Simone.
Forget the
quotes that Form Of Release is ‘modern day R n B’. It’s a term that is total poppycock and no
doubt has John Lee Hooker and Muddy Waters turning in their graves. It’s a brave brave album but is successful
because Borth clearly has a lot of confidence and is brimming over with
ideas. Keep an eye on this fella, you’ll
be hearing more of him.
9/10
Links
No Time No Place Records
CHLLNGR on Soundcloud
9/10
Links
No Time No Place Records
CHLLNGR on Soundcloud
Published on Louder Than War 14/11/14 - here
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