 Eluvium
"Lambent Material" CD
Temporary
Residence Limited
Genres: drone, experimental rock
Temporary Residence Limited
PO Box 11390
Portland OR 97211
Aug 18 - 24 2003 |
Alluvium
: clay, silt, sand, gravel, or similar detrital material deposited by
running water (Merriam-Webster English Dictionary)
In essence, alluvium, or Eluvium as Matthew Cooper
prefers to spell it, is the debris associated with the disintegration
of rock. Clever, then, that Cooper's music sounds exactly like the
dissolution of rock music. Ambient stretches of guitar noise not
unlike some of Brian Eno's work are complimented by Cooper's
repeated plucks and strokes. Melody is buried under a haze of calm
noise, sometimes the results aren't far off from Landing or Surface
of Eceyon, except considerably more simplistic in instrumentation
and melody.
The most vital piece on Lambent Material, Eluvium's
debut album, is undoubtedly "Zerthis Was a Shivering Human
Image," a passionate, loud explosion of guitar noise that tears
rock's boundaries apart through echoing, grimy walls of feedback and
amplified guitar. Vile. More solemn, piano-drived pieces "Under
the Water It Glowed" and "I Am So Much More Me That You Are
Perfectly You" are touching breaks from the guitar that bring
everything down to Earth.
Altogether, Lambent Material is a strong debut from Eluvium,
but leaves one wondering if Matthew Cooper's sophomore release
will have anything new to say.
85%
Matt Shimmer
[Vitals: 5 tracks, distributed by the
label, released May 6, 2003] |
