SEAFRONT

I've been so affected by Lowercase Noises over the last month that I set aside my usual regimen of Italian prog rock to help get this Albuquerque-based post-rock project added to the site. I say project because Lowercase Noises is really one man, the hugely talented composer, producer, and musician Andy Othling. He will have the occasional guest on his albums but for the most part, this is a one-man show which manages to avoid the pitfalls common to one-man shows.

"Seafront" is the debut album and it is a good one. Strains of Eno or quieter Tangerine Dream atmospheres collide with modern post rock and electronic beats in some songs. There is a superb thematic thread running through the album which revolves around looking at the past via spoken word interludes. The most fascinating to me takes place in "Certain Remembrances" when an old woman born in 1876 is reminiscing and speaking of the events in her life to Andy's gentle music. Hugely effective piece of music. You can feel the aura of time passing as you listen. Gentle guitarscapes and keyboards literally float you along. "A Haunt of Jackals" features light beats over Othling's squalling guitar which pleads at times, and other times drives upbeat melody with bright, uplifting chord progressions. When you listen to Haunt in the car the world outside literally becomes a film, Othling's melody becomes such an adept soundtrack, your mind wanders with him. This is mood music which is never background noise, and never boring. It allows you to view your own life from above, I found parts of it almost mind expanding at the risk of sounding precious.

The dialogue returns again with haunting music as we hear wonder described in "It was a Sight." "Evening Wolves" recalls a Portishead vibe with a big bass and tinkling piano over the beats, something of a side trip from the album's feel to this point. "Burning Sand" manages to make an aeronautical weather recording, the most boring of broadcasts, into a pure Floydian dreamscape complete with water sound effects and a Gilmourian lead guitar. "A Rare Social Gathering" again uses some spoken historical recording looking at the behaviours of girls in the 1790s as compared to life in what I assume was the 1950s or 60s. Here Andy rocks out with crashing drums and large guitar bombast as he navigates the waves of time travel.

I've never been a huge post-rock guy but Lowercase Noises is one band that includes enough color and animation to really pull me in. This is a great catalog of work which needs to be heard. Some of the titles include the gorgeous artwork of Terri Othling. With subsequent releases, Andrew Othling continues to improve his craft and composition, becoming one of the most interesting recording artists out there. "Seafront" is a very worthy and contemplative starting point in what I hope is a long ride.

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