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Koda, "Movements"
M. Derrick's ten compositions on this record easily qualifies as someof the most relaxing music I've ever had the pleasure of hearing. Tentracks have separate names, but Movementscomes together as one cohesive picture built from shining strings andwarm, enveloping tones.
Infraction
Everything about this recording istransformative: it eliminates time, balances every aspect of theenvironment it is played in, and subtly coerces any negative or violentmood into one of contentment and ease. The dynamics on the record aredeceptive, changing so softly and slowly so that it is difficult tocatch the exact moment that any change actually occurs. Hums modulate,pseudo-melodies pitch and bend, but the aura of each track seems tobleed into the next without fail; Movements is incrediblywell-conceived and constructed seamlessly, as though it were imaginedas one continuous transformation. As far as actual instrumentationgoes, it's difficult to discern whether or not these are over-processedinstruments drawn out into oblivion or simply keyboards layered uponmore keyboards. Whichever happens to be true is unimportant, part ofthe miracle of Derrick's work is that the instrumentation never changesbut stays consistently inviting, beautiful, and captivatingnonetheless. "The Tension Was Beautiful" segues into "Are We Water" inthe same way that one movement of symphony might slip into the next.Instead of a whole range of instruments being used, Derrick minimalizeshis available sources and bleeds every last ounce of soul out of them.Sometimes, as on "A Waterboat Singing Having Sunk," the instrumentssound as if they are singing, harmonizing the way multiple violins orcellos do together, and at other times they are without reference andabstract, but still earthly and familiar. I've never felt quite sowonderful listening to a record—the speakers seem to pour out lightwhen it plays. I have heard only a small handful of records capable ofcausing physical effects in the listener, but this is one of thoserecords that literally speaks to and alters the body. I've found myskin tingling, butterflies in my stomach, and a steady bliss throughoutmy bones every time I've put Movements on, and that has been avery good number of times in just the last few days alone... never mindthe weeks I've been soaking in its bright ghost and losing myselfentirely.
Infraction
Everything about this recording istransformative: it eliminates time, balances every aspect of theenvironment it is played in, and subtly coerces any negative or violentmood into one of contentment and ease. The dynamics on the record aredeceptive, changing so softly and slowly so that it is difficult tocatch the exact moment that any change actually occurs. Hums modulate,pseudo-melodies pitch and bend, but the aura of each track seems tobleed into the next without fail; Movements is incrediblywell-conceived and constructed seamlessly, as though it were imaginedas one continuous transformation. As far as actual instrumentationgoes, it's difficult to discern whether or not these are over-processedinstruments drawn out into oblivion or simply keyboards layered uponmore keyboards. Whichever happens to be true is unimportant, part ofthe miracle of Derrick's work is that the instrumentation never changesbut stays consistently inviting, beautiful, and captivatingnonetheless. "The Tension Was Beautiful" segues into "Are We Water" inthe same way that one movement of symphony might slip into the next.Instead of a whole range of instruments being used, Derrick minimalizeshis available sources and bleeds every last ounce of soul out of them.Sometimes, as on "A Waterboat Singing Having Sunk," the instrumentssound as if they are singing, harmonizing the way multiple violins orcellos do together, and at other times they are without reference andabstract, but still earthly and familiar. I've never felt quite sowonderful listening to a record—the speakers seem to pour out lightwhen it plays. I have heard only a small handful of records capable ofcausing physical effects in the listener, but this is one of thoserecords that literally speaks to and alters the body. I've found myskin tingling, butterflies in my stomach, and a steady bliss throughoutmy bones every time I've put Movements on, and that has been avery good number of times in just the last few days alone... never mindthe weeks I've been soaking in its bright ghost and losing myselfentirely.
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