Bass Communion "Bass Communion" 3rd Stone Records stone 036 cd 1998 (63:41)
shopping (1:24)
drugged
(13:35)
sleep
etc (13:29)
orphan
coal (10:17)
drugged (24:55)
written and recorded by steven wilson at no-man's land.
UK guitarist Steven Wilson works in several different projects including Porcupine Tree, No-Man and I.E.M. and has collaborated with Muslimgauze (see "Bass Communion v Muslimgauze"). Bass Communion is his solo, experimental ambient outlet and this is the self titled debut album originally released in April of 1998, now readily available via World Serpent Distribution. Over an hour of music is divided among four tracks (and a brief intro) that range from 10 to 25 minutes apiece. Describing this music simply as 'ambient' would be lazy and inaccurate. Wilson's textures are generated or sampled from 'real' instruments then heavily processed, stretched, looped, etc. to create a unique sound set. "Drugged" is comprised of pad like atmospheres and long sinewy horn notes (with the occasional subtle lick) which lead to a few reverberated Floydian electric guitar strums and a mildly distorted fuzz out finale. It's simply gorgeous. The rest of the album could continue in this vein and I'd be perfectly happy. But, Wilson opts for variety which turns out to be for the best. "Sleep Etc" is centered around a long drone note loop that is saturated in bell tones and liquid gurgles. Very menacing, in a Coil "How to Destroy Angels" manner. "Orphan Coal" opens up with light percussion (so much for 'ambient'!) then adds processed sound squiggles, drifting textures, female murmurs, unintelligible ghostly background chattering and, later, a deep bass guitar line. The final track, also entitled "Drugged" curiously enough, is a 25 minute slab of deep and moody classic ambiance. This one is for the Eno fan in all of us. The track utilizes a 7 second Robert Fripp guitar sample loop from 1993 (which is in no way recognizable as guitar) for a gradual ebb and flow of pad like textures with slow motion bass throbs and distorted fuzz here and there. Gorgeous, again. Altogether this is a very well balanced, beautiful album. I can easily imagine this music as a soundtrack for planetariums, large aquariums, museums and chill out rooms. And I mean that as a compliment. Each of the five tracks has a corresponding 2 sided jewel case insert so you can choose whichever you like as the cover, which is an interesting idea I don't remember encountering before. Up next for me is the 1999 2 disc follow-up "Bass Communion II" ...
Where did I get this cd? - mail order via Riouxs Records.