Greg Davis : midpoint

Two track work (clocking in at an hour in length) is a substantial and beautifully crafted work in every sense. The first piece is an absolutely wonderful slice of drone-based, ever expanding music that begins with a calming tone that slowly develops over the course of the track. Growing from a muted sine wave style tone into a full-blooded bowed string style ambient texture it has that transcendental feel that certain artists seem to have knack for (and I would suggest that this track bears a similar style and sound to the awesome Mountain Ocean Sun album, also on Home Normal). For the entire duration it flows over you before reaching a super-nice crescendo of layers towards the end. Really quite a magical piece. The second track has a slightly more offbeat approach arrangement-wise which you’ll really notice when you sit down with the album for the first time. Initially it shares similar motifs with the first track but then turns into a more naturalistic and pastoral style of ambience. A gorgeous guitar works its way into the mix with field recordings adding another layer of intrigue and then, suddenly, you’re treated to a simply fabulous Indian style rhythmic section. It fits quite brilliantly with the layered and almost spiritual feel of the drone elements and creates a hypnotic and, it must be said, surprisingly groovy atmosphere. But it doesn’t end there as this passage slowly morphs into an analogue arpeggio that filters and changes, adding in extra melodies in a classic polysynth style. This part finishes the album off with a real flourish and adds a very different element to the overall package. Quality work all round – thoughtful, mellow, charming and produced to perfection. A real winner and no mistake.

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