So, we finally get to Andy’s latest release where he again brings in people he has worked with previously such as Michael McClure, Anthony ‘Bones’ Bonito and Gary Alesbrook plus others. Before I get into the album as a whole, I must mention second track, “Sunshine”, which features vocals from Andy and Shawna Causey which is upbeat and poppy. It does not belong here as it is totally at odds with the rest of the album and either should have been on ’80 Spheres’ or kept for another release. The reason I say that, is the rest of this 9-track album is delicate, dreamy, ambient but never really New Age, creating a soundscape for the listener to wander in and find their own path among the mist. The combination of flutes and synths with the other instruments is incredibly compelling as it creates a world I very much want to inhabit.
The arrangements are sparse yet sumptuous, restrained yet direct, all-encompassing but with a lightness of touch, all of which creates a film for the ears as one falls deep into a magical world, as long as one moves rapidly past the second track. There are times when there is more jazz, more pop, while the trumpet could be the lead here, the keyboards there, and the result is an intriguing piece of work which keeps delivering the most one listens to it. It needs to be played on headphones as that is the only way to get all the nuances, and it is here that the clarity of the production and arrangements really shine. It is a lot to sit through seven albums by the same artist, but when they are all as varied as the ones by Andy Faunch then it has been quite a journey of discovery. It also makes it quite difficult to recommend where to start when investigating his catalogue, but all these albums are available on Bandcamp and I suggest you just dive in and discover which ones work best for you, as they are incredibly varied. Personally, even though this does include a track I think would be better suited elsewhere, I would have to say that this and ‘The Vig’ are my favourites.
Rating: 8/10
[bandcamp width=350 height=753 album=2352921966 size=large bgcol=ffffff linkcol=0687f5]
Links:
https://faunch.bandcamp.com/