Thursday, March 11, 2004
The album I’ve listened to far more than any other this year is Marcus Schmickler’s latest Pluramon release, Dreams Top Rock (on Karaoke Kalk). They seem to have captured exactly how I’ve been feeling, exactly what I‘ve been wanting to hear. Jangly, shimmering My Bloody Valentine-esque waves of guitar and sound mix with synth washes, slippy beats and distorted electronics that fade into quietly strummed acoustic guitars and childlike keyboard plings . Julee Cruise adds perfect, barely there hums and whispers of lyrics, chants "I'm not going to stay," while Hayden Chisholm contributes some great (doubled up?) bass clarinet on the halfway point track Flageolea. There’s even guest appearances from improv heavyweights Kevin Drumm and Keith Rowe, though I'd be hard pressed to pick out their work from the wall of sound mix. The acoustic instruments and electronic effects are weaved together perfectly, creating great swoops of real emotion, new emotions. Dreams Top Rock is one of those rare records that is so good it always feels too short. Play it again.
