Search - CTB :: OMID

Fine beaty ambience, but ultimately nothing new

Andrew Ross | Chicago, IL USA | 10/29/2003

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Picked this up on the strength my recollection of the Monster's Ball soundtrack, and because I'm a sucker for anything sponsored by the NEA. The sticker makes no mention of the film, but does promise "deep listening" by a "dronemaster" It overpromises.What follows is pleasant enough - decent ambient washes underpinned by looped, vaguely "fourth world" rhythms and treated vocal and instrumental samples. Nothing that I haven't heard a million times before though, and with a worrisome smoothness that is skirting Enigma-ish territory. Nothing droney about this, however,too much percussion.Not an unpleasant CD, but I was expecting something a bit more experimental and challenging. It gets better towards the end, when the loops calm down a bit and there's some nice layered ambient tracks with guitar that sounds almost like Hillage.If you like plundered world rhythms, I'd recommend Muslimgauze, Banco de Gaia, etc. If you really want drones, start with Pauline Oliveros, Ingram Marshall, Phil Niblock, Pelt, Vibracathedral Orchestra, etc. If you like Enigma, Conjure One and that kind of thing, this is similar but much less cheesy."