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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