2 out of 5

Label: Sounds Not Music

Producer: Thee Contortionists

So drone and ambient music is going to be sparse by definition, I can accept that.  But ‘Time Smasher’ stretches things beyond the point – and then some timing interruptions during that long stretch break even the trance-like mood the album might be reaching for.  The other album I have by this group (which is, I believe, just one guy) alternated between sound washes and some tribal chanting beat-based stuff.  It was a quality listen, capable of setting you in a particular mindset for hours on end, thought bubbling away while you stare off into space.  ‘Time Smasher’ wants to be something more – it’s a total indie affair, so hand packaged and all, but it comes in an envelope with a novella entitled ‘The Journal of Philip Von Tik.’  The envelope, on the front, reads, “We travel through time together.”  So there’s obviously something going on here.  And it sort of works for a while.  Opening track Ganzl is like a call to some kind of elder gods, a minute of chirps and sound that blends into ‘Zanthur.’  So, right, drone is drone.  Maybe it won’t build or change, but we must trust that the artist has a reason for structure.  ‘Zanthur’ goes for six minutes of minimalist ominous noise, and it adds elements and takes them away pleasantly enough.  Closer ‘Xhi’an’ is similar, and actually a little dreamier, adding some nice electronic/nature insectoid sounds that flitter between calming and creepy.  Neither of these tracks have the same sort of zone-out factor as the other album, but they function as good background music.  Unfortunately, between these is the 20+ minute ‘Ascedotropisch,’ which, though still minimal, ups the volume a little bit, sorta’ forcing your attention… and then doesn’t change for almost its entire runtime, until near the end of the track, when it stops and starts rather uncomfortably.  Taking up the majority of the runtime, this one move draws negative attention to the album and really throws you out of any given bliss for which you were aiming, ol’ little blissful you.

And that’s that.  I’ll review the novella separately.