VAJRAYANA

Vajrayana is an EP that is lightly eerie, occasional propulsive, but seems like it's been done before. After listening to this EP a few times over, I've come to the conclusion that this EP sounds like it was constructed entirely of introductions and interludes found on recent Porcupine Tree albums (Fear of a Blank Planet, Nil Recurring, The Incident). At any minute, some rock-style guitars and melancholic vocals about technology and how much life sucks could kick in and this would immediately become like any other Porcupine Tree album. Unfortunately, without those PT elements, this EP is actually very boring. Both tracks are purely electronic and very bleak, and fail to establish any interesting qualities or real atmosphere or textures. Beats are lightly integrated into the first track as chimes and synthesized choral sounds emphasize the shallowness, and "Aum Shinrikyo" really isn't much of anything at all besides a slowly pulsing bass thump backed by a slowly alternating windy drone.

"Vajrayana" is a two track EP from Steven Wilson's Bass Communion project written originally in 2001, but released in 2004. It is quite rare in that only 200 copies were released. Of course, Bass Communion is all Steven Wilson performing and playing everything. Typically, the music is made up of manipulated sounds, loops and/or field recordings and are always experimental and, in most cases, quite minimalistic. Both tracks are a little over 6 minutes.

The first track, "Vajrayana", is quite eerie with electronic tones and a throbbing percussion and some hardly discernible crackles. Sustained tones are soon added to the repeating pattern. At about the 2 minute mark, percussion stops and there are some louder tones, then the repeating pattern starts again without the throbbing percussion at first, then it fades back in. Intensity builds in what sounds like manipulated choir sounds, but they are processed so much it's hard to tell. This ebbs and flows for a while as other tones come and go. Eventually it all fades out.

The 2nd track is "Aum Shinrikyo". A pattern of 2 quick bass notes repeats with a subdued drone. This is replaced by some strange clicks and pops and then it returns again. An electronic melody made of sustained notes slowly plays over the top of this. Though it is very ambient, it has a dark cast to it with a tense atmosphere.

I find that I experience Bass Communion best when I close my eyes and just let myself get immersed into the sound. It can be like getting transported to being able to visualize scenes in my mind always being influenced by the sounds and experiences in my life at the time of listening. Otherwise, just listening to this for the sake of listening doesn't really accomplish much. I find it strangely beautiful, no matter how minimal it is, and it may seem like a waste of time to a lot of listeners, but I tend to get immersed in it.

Regardless, this EP is completely minimal, so don't expect anything except a nice soundscape. It is reminiscent of previous Bass Communion music, so it really offers nothing other than a few more soundscapes. It is hard to find, thus it is probably best suited to collectors or fans of this style of music.