Rheged (Carl Matthews) Rheged

The one thing that hasn’t changed however is his superb compositional skill. The album begins and we are instantly plunged into a complex drum loop with a melodic motif. This motif forms the backbone to ‘Kinetic’, low in the mix hovering within the pulsations. A faint sequence can just be heard underneath but it gradually becomes more prominent though you hardly notice its steady progress to the surface because of the effect the hypnotic beats are having on your mind. Just when the concentration is starting to wander the drum beat alters and the melody disappears though you can still hear it in the rhythm (imagination perhaps).

Things become more and more complex with all the pulsations bouncing off each other and moving in choreographed perfection. ‘Fohn’ begins with even more complex combinations of rhythm and incredibly fast runs of notes. Each splash of sound is distinct and with a life of its own subtly different to the one you heard just an instant before. Cyclical patterns mesh within each other mutating and yet still staying within the overall life of the piece. There is loads of sonic trickery going on and so much fitted within each minute. Deceptively simple sounding when left to wash over you but when the mind is focused on what is happening it becomes apparent just how complex all the different elements of the track are. Almost like a mosaic looking like a solid picture when viewed from a distance but when seen close all the thousands of individual stones can be made out. Almost half way in the drum sounds and rhythm change markedly and the swirling sequence / loops disappear changing the pace of the piece and allowing you to relax for a time.

‘Psyborg’ gets straight into more swirling cyclical rhythmic gymnastics, subtle melody coming through via a number of different synth voices. Absolutely exquisite. The title track initially makes use of a warbling rhythmic effect. At times I was reminded of Cluster but at eight minutes this phase of the track fades away and we enter a much more fluid abstract section, initially devoid of structure but then a new rhythm builds accompanied by strange, but perfectly fitting splashes of sound, almost like a rhythmic whisper (you would have to hear it to appreciate what I mean). ‘Alert Threshold’ sounds as if a possessed bass guitar is on the loose in pursuit of a sequenced lead line. Later a superb melody makes an occasional appearance, completely grabbing you every time it does.