Acoustic Tales

Delayed until Jan 2011: Out of faint drone rumblings, an organ slowly ascends. The night is awash with a hospitable solemnity that the listener must traverse alone. “Acoustic Tales”, by Field Rotation, provides the soundtrack to stormy nights, unsettling at first, but compelling the listener to embark on an introspective excursion.

Darkness weighs heavily on the listener at first; the fog created in “Acoustic Tale 1” is waylaid with timely silence and makes for the perfect point of departure for an album filled with reflective movements, somber stringed nocturnes, and poignant moments at every turn that shake the listener to his/her core. Throughout the eleven tales, there are subtle strokes that examine small, finite particulars; a certain motif is explored, allowed to ferment, before burrowing itself back into the fold. On “Acoustic Tale 4” featuring Danny Norbury, the shadows diminish; the once-barren landscape now flourishes to reveal rigorous colors, lively shapes that fall into focus, and persistent patterns that provoke unremitting gratification. Each respective tale delves into evocation; memories that were once scattered fragments, conjoin, and overwhelm the listener. Electronic manipulations add even more nuance to the strings that often churn and then recede, and while this is expertly crafted on each individual tale, “Acoustic Tale 5” manages to do so with a remarkable lucidity. In some circles, I imagine this record will draw unfair comparisons to Anne Muller & Nils Frahm’s “7fingers” from earlier this year, with its marriage of modern classical elements and electronic manipulation, but the electronic elements of this album are simply one facet to each work, as each particular morsel of sound works to carve out a nook for the sake of the whole.

“Acoustic Tale 6” creates such a brooding tension that when the strings finally arrive it’s like a moist salve, providing, at certain intervals, a nice respite. As the album progresses, it gets even more magnificent; “Acoustic Tale 9” picks up the listener from the foreboding gloom and places them in a resplendent environment, complete with uplifting swells of violin and punctuated by electronic pulses.

On the penultimate tale, Field Rotation’s menacing string arrangement sputters through a sinister opening before blossoming into an enchanting segue, connecting the lurking darkness with glimmering rays of light.  The hair-raising chanting on the closer, “Acoustic Tale 11”, is an appropriate ending to one of the most haunting albums of the year. Avoiding complete desolation, Field Rotation creates music to intersperse between the rays of light that penetrate the darkness; a balance is struck in the gloaming.

It would be an understatement to say this record falls in with some of the best releases of the year, as it demands to be at the forefront of a handful of triumphs. Sadly, many will not get to hear the brilliance of the album due to its delayed release and limited (200 copies) availability. When it is finally unveiled to the world, the album, with a magnificent mastering job from Nils Frahm, includes a 20-page booklet with stunning photographic artwork by Antonymes. The artwork and music is also presented in conjunction with themed poetry from Estela Lamat, continuing her association with the label.

- Review by Michael Vitrano for Fluid Radio

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