‘Multiphonia’ is the debut album from Compost record’s new signing Robinn, AKA Tom Le French.
Warm synths, off kilter jazz percussion and touching melodies escort the listener through the album. Adding to the audio delight is Nathaniel Pearn, also known as Natural Self from Brighton label Tru Thoughts, who provides thoughtfully felt and timed vocals.
We had a listen:
‘Dialog’ has a diaphanous and scratchy feathered set of sounds that flicker at your tender skin and snort around your pockets. ‘Alarm ‘ is one of several tracks featuring Nathaniel Pearn’ – it feels as though it is disconnected and crusted. But not painfully so. Bloops gleeps all add to the overall infestation of assorted sounds. The vocal is chalky and righteous. The “Sound and Feeling” chorus is catchy.
‘Hall Of Mirrors’ is like being trapped in an aquarium – wallowing and foaming. Unable to grow. And all you have for company is your own bulbous reflection puffing out at you.
‘Syntax Error’ is dismissive. It’s a jagged scrap-book of fragments and memories half torn. But it has a mature completeness and a restless dexterity that draws the listener along.
‘Redlight’ is hot and bothered. The intro has a vaguely Gershwin style R & B bounce to it. And it is smothered with smoky sauces. ‘The Sound Around Us’ is even more urban. A thickened moth-wing of percussive elements helps Nathaniel’s vocal to grasp richly emblazoned clarity and rasped nirvana.
‘Talk To Me’ is like being blinded and lost in an inner-city traffic jam. And then ‘The Game’s Not Over’ weaves along like a ball of wool spinning itself together. Sometimes the sounds are loose and bobbled … at others they are taught and pressured. The vocal is anxious and empty. Lights reflect along the entire crust of the song, like brake-lights flickering on the gutter-snow. It’s as cold as that.
‘False’ prowls like a slough-skinned swamp beast searching for it’s own body.Darting this-way-and-that, the rhythms dip and dash – bubbling merrily below.
Sometimes this is lip-smacking and cracking fun – but it always contains an element of fear and rejection close to the heart. Compelling and mysterious.
– © Neil_Mach September 2013 –
Link:
https://www.facebook.com/Binnro
RAW RAMP 