Friday 16 January 2015

Music - Part 381 - Tim Held




Tim Held - TypicalHaunts
DL
15 January 2015


Seattle D.I.Y. artist and producer releases his new album.  

It’s hard to believe that it’s really been a year since the release of Tim Held’s last long playing effort, the dystopian landscape realism of Alb(L)um.  The loneliness of his last album created a stunning backdrop of a journey along an isolated virtual freeway township and his new album almost sees that community grow and thrive in the modern age.

Less atmospheric than 2014s attempt, TypicalHaunts still manages to enthuse a feeling of warmth and wanting with its often crunching beats and looped melodies.  For example, Diagnosis repeats an infectious bassline that embeds itself into your inner conscience, and album opener (the aptly named) Birth maybe starts where Alb(L)um left off.


Perhaps the key to Held’s successful projections is in his complete open-mindedness to his art.  No boundaries, no agenda, just tracks which are often simple but equally as effective when layered like the hypnotic Doom, allow his talent to shine through like a crack of sun in a cloud covered sky.

Over just thirty-three minutes the ten tracks deliver the promise that its now surely expected of Held as he becomes a force majeure in today’s ambient/experimental scene to the sound of a synthesized heartbeat which fades out on Realization.

Sentimental dares to involve a moon stomp dance beat in amongst its blips and bleeps, and is perhaps akin to the sound of VCMG on their Ssss collaboration, and Disengagement does exactly what it claims as it blends several effects and moods effortlessly over its recurring hook.

Closing with the two tracks Rebirth and Afterbirth it is clear that Tim Held is a man with a mission.  A mission to create incredible soundscapes that really do take the listener on a journey around their minds, their souls, wherever. As Rebirth distorts and morphs into the album closer so another accomplished album closes. 

Held sets the bar high for 2015 with an album which may well be an early contender for those Best Of lists.

8.5/10


Links

Published on Louder Than War 8/01/14 - here


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