Search - Brokeback :: Morse Code in the Modern Age: Across

Brokeback
Morse Code in the Modern Age: Across
Genres: Alternative Rock, Special Interest, Pop, Rock

Track Listings (3) - Disc #1
1. Lives Of The Rhythm Experts
2. Flat Handed And On The Wing
3. Running Scared

CD Details

All Artists: Brokeback
Title: Morse Code in the Modern Age: Across
Members Wishing: 0
Total Copies: 0
Label: Thrill Jockey
Release Date: 2/6/2001
Album Type: Enhanced
Genres: Alternative Rock, Special Interest, Pop, Rock
Styles: Indie & Lo-Fi, Experimental Music, Progressive, Progressive Rock
Number of Discs: 1
SwapaCD Credits: 1
UPC: 790377009125

Synopsis

Amazon.com

Douglas McCombs has more bands than most small indie labels. Besides being a member of Tortoise, he is a mainstay with Eleventh Dream Day, Pullman, and Brokeback (with whom he made 1999's Field Recordings from the Cook County Water Table). Now permanently paired with bassist Noel Kupersmith, McCombs continues to pursue his post-rock journey into sonic ambience. Morse Code contains but three tracks, the first two of which are accompanied by impressionistic QuickTime movies by filmmaker Braden King. Track one, "Lives of the Rhythm Experts," is typified by a hovering, shimmering quality, like wind rippling through high-tension lines. "Flat Handed on the Wing," a collaboration with Calexico's Joey Burns and John Convertino, betrays its improvisational recording process by sounding rather directionless. The final track, "Running Scared," is a fairly straightforward--by McCombs's standards--instrumental rendition of Roy Orbison's histrionic love song. --Mike Pattenden

CD Reviews

New directions in Brokeback...

melmack | Cambridge, MA United States | 01/25/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Now officially joined by Noel Kupersmith, Doug McCombs has created an incredible thirty minute EP. With song lengths of about sixteen, tweleve, and three minutes, there is a great mix of sounds here. While I felt "Field Recordings of the Cook County Water Table" lacked direction and focus (while still very good...), there is great chemistry and consistency in this EP. "Lives of the Rhythm Experts" feels almost like one of Brian Eno's ambient tape-loop experiments at times. As the song evolves there is an incredible texture of sound from an impressive group of collaboraters. "Flat Handed and On the Wing" is a slowly developing, quiet piece that is punctuated by phrases from Kupersmith's upright bass (very nicely recorded accoustic sound), while McCombs adds spaced-out chords and notes from his six-string bass. As the song builds, a strummed guitar is added which is near percussive at times because you can hear the subtle sound of strumming muted strings. Incredible. Finally, "Running Scared" is a powerful, march-like song that builds and builds, even adding a chorus of voices along the way. It has a big, full, almost fuzzy sound without getting distorted or noisy. The cd also includes quicktime movies that are set to the first two songs. Filmed and compiled by Braden King (Dutch Harbor: Where the Sea Breaks Its Back). These moving images add greatly to the soundscape and atmosphere. For example, "Flat Handed and On the Wing" is footage looking out along the wing of an airplane. Although the scences are so familiar, when the music is added, it is captivating to see how perfectly they work together- Brokeback's tapestry of sound while watching the sun set into the clouds at thirty-thousand feet. Moving.A great sophomore effort from this new tandem. I am already highly anticipating their next release..."