Experimental electronica that works... and works... then wor
skytwo | Boston | 05/31/2006
(4 out of 5 stars)
"So you've got a new ambient album. Even if it's by an artist you really like, it's probably going to be a mixed bag. That's the nature of the genre, and your personal view of what a subtle-yet-evocative soundscape should be probably isn't going to be a perfect match with the mental cinematography of ANY single artist. On the face of it, Fluidities lives down to that expectation. The two CDs consist of 22 tracks of mostly minimalist ambient that range from dull to inspired.
But that's where the bad news ends. Because Fluidities is much, much more than the sum of its parts. And that was the idea behind composer Jonathan Hughes' brainchild. You might call it futuristic Ornette Coleman by design-- every artist worked independently, but each track of Fluidities has the same running time and works within the framework of the whole. That is, playing any track on disc one in sync with any track from disc two creates a new whole. Each of eleven tracks is compatible with each of eleven others.
But you've probably already realized that even basic familiarity with a computer obviates the need for complex speaker logistics. The use of a couple of media players increases the number of possible permutations dramatically, with each track being a possible combination with 21 others. Not to mention the complimentary extra tracks that Hughes has made available on the Net. That means each song can be combined with almost thirty others.
That's the brilliance of Fluidities. For the price of a double CD (and, say, five minutes online), you will have gained access to hundreds upon hundreds of ambient compositions. I've been taking it all in for about two years now, and I still enjoy it on two levels-- matching up two tracks at random, and seeing how a personal favorite track melds with... well, any of the other 26 or so available.
Fluidities is a unique experience many times over, and while individual compositions might be lacking in depth, this "organic compilation" represents an inspired evolutionary moment in electronic music, surprising only in that someone didn't think of it sooner. Recommended for any ambient fan who isn't limited to a single CD player."
Track Listings (11) - Disc #1