BARDO DISORDER

Repetition in the wrong hands, like that of a low EI algebra professor, can be torturous, but some artists thrive on redundancy, from the minimalist masters to a few proggers we know. JANE and MIKE OLDFIELD come to mind, with the latter fairly capsizing when he shapeshifts a la "Amarok". Now add Jesse Heikkinen's project ITERUM NATA, whose albums explore spiritual archetypes as mantras, here in "Bardo Disorder" the Tibetan concept of the period between death and the next life, and what can happened when the transition, like most, is not a smooth one.

While Heikkinen can control pretty much everything we hear, he doesn't dictate how we hear it, and, while the meditative aspect remains, this is by far his most aggressive undertaking of the 4 currently available. The near metallic riffs in the outro to "Thee" and "Sydan" are stirring in new exhilarating ways for ITERUM NATA. This renders the ballads, like "Worry" and "Thee End", all the more mystical, the hypnotic strums conveying a ponderousness and the sort of profound reflection that is normally only attainable through disembodiment. The quasi title track and its patient unravelling is more than reminiscent of some of DAVID SYLVIAN's generous collaborations with ROBERT FRIPP until it goes all post rock on us to stunning effect. Several numbers including the closer are riddled with Gilmour esque leads which, while noteworthy at a certain level, seem of a more forced intensity.

Another coherent collection by this already prolific "new" artist, "Bardo Disorder" speaks to transitions from the mundane to the spectacular in a devotional manner. At this early stage this has already become already something of a calling card that helps us prepare for and look forward to what's next.