`
The way Wall conveys that imagination electronically is less through melody and more through beats surrounded by repetitive hooks. At times, these can feel too repetitive, but most of the tracks move along at a good pace. Only a couple tracks (the aforementioned "Soren's Cinnamon" and "How It's Made") are more white noise than melodic background music. Some songs lean more heavily on melody, like "Submariner" or "Railroad Town," and these are the standouts from the bunch. The experimentation on the longer tracks is also more impressive, like making the snare on "Table Tennis" mimic the back and forth of someone playing the game or using the high hat to mimic a steam engine on "Railroad Town." The shorter tracks that run under 2 minutes feel more like filler or half-formed demos than fully completed works. Still, the overall effect of the album makes for mostly pleasant background listening.
The challenge of an instrumental record is being able to convey a theme or concept without the use of lyrics. At first, Taciturn Headphonetics might seem like a random spewing of ideas into a synthesizer. But repeated listens gives one the sense of playfulness and imagination. A track like "Table Tennis" obviously references a game, while other tunes feel like video game soundtracks ("The Milve Raceway" or "Tony Hawk's Snowskater," for example). Songs like "I Only See Hot Air Balloons in the Morning," "Dragon Sunnies," or "Fireworks Galaxy" add to the childlike wonder of the album. It's that awe and wonder that seems to be Wall's biggest goal here and, for the most part, he achieves that.
While Taciturn Headphonetics may not be the catchiest electronic album of the year, it serves a good purpose in what it tries to instill in the listener. It likely won't be a record to put on and pay close attention to, but it can work as something creative to have on in the background. If you're looking for a project to help fan the fires of wonder in your heart, Silent Music has an offering that may help.
- Review date: 2/5/24, written by John Underdown of Jesusfreakhideout.com
Natalie Grant Performs at National Prayer Breakfast in Ottawa, Canada Wed, 08 May 2024 16:40:00 EST |
Alex Henry Foster ft. Momoka Tobari Lands #1 Billboard Alt Canada Wed, 08 May 2024 16:30:00 EST |
HighRoad to Release "Straight from the Heart" on May 31 Wed, 08 May 2024 14:40:00 EST |
Crimson Overtone Releases New Rock Single, "Welcome to Nowhere" Tue, 07 May 2024 15:20:00 EST |
Iconic Rock Band STRYPER to Release First Ever Acoustic Album Tue, 07 May 2024 15:15:00 EST |
Gracie Cherry Releases "You are with Me" to Christian Radio Tue, 07 May 2024 15:05:00 EST |
Tyrone Crawford Wins Best Performing Artist Award at the International Christian Film and Music Festival Mon, 06 May 2024 19:55:00 EST |
New Studies Link Improved Mental Health to Use of Digitally-Delivered Faith and Prayer Thu, 02 May 2024 20:42:48 +0000 |
DAD TIRED FOUNDER JERRAD LOPES EXPANDS POPULAR MINISTRY WITH DEBUT CHILDREN’S TITLE Wed, 10 Apr 2024 17:07:46 +0000 |
“Anything Goes” by Andrew Kerhoulas of Brother K Thu, 04 Apr 2024 02:54:00 +0000 |