Ian Boddy Continuum

The concept was born from a concert Ian performed at an art gallery. This was a concert with a difference though - he was asked to play for 8 hours continuously! As Ian said himself "...you can't play 'Space Cadet' over and over again..." hence he decided to adapt his style to suit the situation. The result was recorded and here we have the selected highlights covering 2 CDs. The first thing to say is how different this album is to the expected Ian Boddy style. This is a much more freeform and organic approach to Electronic Music. The title itself suggests how important it is to listen to the music for long periods. Try and take this album in small portions and you will miss the whole point. So, arrange for all possible distractions to be at a minimum, sit back and take it in. 'Alpha' opens with 10 minutes of slowly undulating harmonic effects. It's a perfect start because it's the type of sound which invites you to chill out and empty the mind of all intrusive thoughts! A sequential throb is introduced which soon develops into a tight bass laden rhythm, adorned with some great synth sweeps and awesome effects. Sequence and rhythm undergo subtle changes as the effects spiral around the soundstage. At one stage the rhythms are stripped down to their basic elements before being slowly reformed to herald flutey synth textures. Eventually the sequence is dismembered completely leaving random blips to merge into subliminal oscillations. It's a heady brew which demands close scrutiny to appreciate all the subtleties on offer. Radio effects and background interference mix with more slowly undulating synth sounds. String pads pierce the by now desolate soundscape, from which an organic sequence begins to form. Percussion is introduced as the backbone begins to become more definite, accompanied by a variety of electronic flotsam. A lengthy holding pattern is reached before some loud synth sirens pierce the continuity. This signals much remoulding of the sequential lattice before choir pads start to flesh out the sound. The beauty of the chords is especially impressive after so much skeletal percussion. A slowly shifting electronic collage brings 'Alpha' to a close, fading with a foreboding fanfare. Onto 'Beta' which opens with some fascinating electronic effects, bringing to mind thoughts of 'The Abyss' and 'Alien'. Strained synth riffs straddle the piece, then disturbing vocal effects are added to the mix. White noise splashes start to suggest structure, and they are soon joined by random metallic percussion packing a bass thud of explosive proportions. Suddenly it stops, leaving the focus on bouncing spacey oscillations and wailing synths. Percussion splashes appear again, as do purposeful sequences featuring a depth charge bass throb and high counterpoint riffs. It turns in on itself before being confronted by an electronic frenzy of noise. This subsides quite suddenly, soon to be followed by the sequence which drops back in the mix allowing various timbres room to breathe. The percussion returns though revitalised, combining with synth voices to create quite a harmonious interlude to which strummed guitar effects are added. The piece almost fades completely before the guitar returns. Eventually the section does subside leaving classic synth oscillations to and minimalistic tones to survey the subliminal remnants of the original sequence. Aquatic/sonar effects and eerie sampled female vocals shift the focus once again. Freeform sound structures drift across the track's expanse, the latent power owing as much to what's not there than to what is. The sound becomes ever more radical as a heartbeat starts and stops. All thoughts of harmonics and structure are completely set aside in an orgy of noise and effects. A percussive sequence invades the scene but the noise tries to swamp it like a cancerous growth. The bass throb remains untainted though, allowing other elements to latch on where they can, but it remains the dominant feature right to the end of the track. So there you have it. Buy this expecting vast slabs of symphonic and melodic EM held together by tight harmonic sequencing, and you will be in for a surprise. This is at times different, and at other times radically different, to the Ian Boddy of recent releases. The focus is on the texture and nature of sound, and the freeform approach allows all preconceptions to be discarded and at times abused! Approach this with an open mind and it may take you places you've never explored before. (GG)

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