Review - Evan Caminiti - Meridian

Evan Caminiti – Meridian (Thrill Jockey)

LP / CD / DL

Out Now

8.5 / 10

Barn Owl man returns with is new album.  

Evan Caminiti can be seen as taking drone to a new level with Meridian creating a sort of industrial ambient which is as full as surprises as you could possibly expect.  The crackle of opener Overtaken possibly evoking comparisons between Tim Held and fellow label mate Dan Friel whereby synthesizers are purposely given the distortion treatment.

Meridian is a particularly pleasing album, not just because of the clear human intervention on what could ordinarily be electronica being left to fend for itself, but also on the fascinating collation that is slowly built up over its nine instrumental tracks.

Collapse cleverly gives the impression of a building piece, slowly rising and rising before parts of it fall under its mighty weight.  Sounds akin to synthesized horns resonate throughout as the ticking of construction machinery works below. 

Sounds enter and sound exit, sounds reverb and sounds obstruct, sounds oscillate and begin in implode on themselves in neat byte-size pieces which are neither too short nor too long.  Caminiti cleverly creates semi-industrial soundscapes which are underpinned by occasional bass blips, chimes and elongated tones. 

Taking over two years to compile the albums many field recordings, Meridian is named after the concept of energy flowing through the body – a perfect title for a perfect realisation – in a break from Evan’s usual guitar work for the more subdued sound he has created here.

Wire takes a more orchestral theme as the organically created sounds make fractured lines across a sea of calm, and Signal the punchiest track on the album uses partial beats to take away from the previous path of the album.

With album closer Mercury the calm returns but with an added bass pulse which breaths in extra life as the collection comes to an end.  Industrial Ambient it may be, but it’s also a fitting end to a well-constructed album.

Links
Thrill Jockey Records
Evan Caminiti (Electric Totem) website
Electric Totem on Twitter
Electric Totem on Soundcloud
Tim Held on hiapop Blog
Dan Friel album review

Published on Louder Than War 28/06/15 - here

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