Search - Ian Boddy :: Slide

Ian Boddy - Slide

J. Jury | London | 12/07/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Ian Boddy - Slide

STYLE

Pure synthesiser expression with muscular beats and aerial melodies. The slightly eerie chiming of blunt gongs introduces Slide - an otherworldly atmosphere thickened with synthetic bass and edged with jangling shell-like percussives. Over this evocative backdrop comes the first sliding melody line - as if bowed, fretless, an expressive lead flowing smoothly from note to note. Subsequent tracks see Boddy's distinctive programmed rhythms propelling the music, complimentary bass lines gutsy, plastic stabs in places, rubbery arpeggios in others. As the name of the album indicates the sound of gliding, keening synths are a feature of most pieces; however, the array of other electronic sound is truly impressive: gritty distorted notes, spacey sci-fi effects, jittery sequential lattice works, feathery drones and lush pads. Most tracks are densely layered, full of detail and constantly in a state of flux as rhythms and melodic forms morph in content and vary in intensity.



MOOD

There are considerable shifts in the tenor of this album - one moment the music has an uneasy, brooding peculiarity, then a somewhat industrial harshness underlies near processional grandeur, then beautiful weightless themes soar across pulsing organic-mechanic arrangements or hypnotic slow motion strains waft up like thin plumes of smoke from a stick of coloured incense. There are some warmer passages on the album such as the bright title track where the beauty of the slide lead is lifted by the harmonious rippling of layered arpeggios and various sonic air movements swishing across the surface.



ARTWORK

Slide arrives in a jewelcase with artwork in keeping with DiN's pattern: broad borders of white and pale grey letterbox an abstract painting by Bernhard Wöstheinrich that runs across to the second insert panel. This is a deep, deep blue design with veins and overlays of paler hue, white and egg-like yellows. There is a strongly diagonal movement to the piece as if caught in motion. The rear cover repeats a section of the painting, pushing track titles into the border above along with their timings; website details below. Inside the insert opens to reveal a second tracklist, an extensive gear list and a paragraph of thanks and credits, the opposite panel given over to a monochrome portrait of the artist at work.



OVERALL

Slide is the sixteenth solo release from the prolific Ian Boddy, his musical career dating back to the late seventies. Released as follow-up to his 2006 album Elemental this latest disc again appears via Boddy's own DiN label (dedicated to imaginative and exploratory electronic music); this is now Din 31. Slide is primarily built around a new analogue keyboard developed from the Ondes Martenot. This was invented back in 1928 by Maurice Martenot with a sound initially very similar the Theremin. A wire and ring pulley system in front of the keyboard along with additional rocker switch control allows the player to move from note to note in unbroken flow. Sweeping glissandi, expressive vibrato effects and gliding, keening melodies are all possibilities opened up to the skilled player - Ian Boddy enthusiastically making full use of all of them. Slide is made up of nine tracks laid out in a structure of threes - a beatless legato followed by three strongly percussive tracks, then a repetition of the pattern. Masterfully engineered, this is an impressive addition to Boddy's growing discography: all that fans have come to expect is here plus the novel employment of fresh intrumentation.





WHO WILL LIKE THIS ALBUM

The DiN sound is now so well established that most electronic music fans will know very much what to hope for from this latest release - Ian Boddy's own music clearly on the front edge of the label's breaking wave. There are echoes of post Tangerine Dream roots way down in the music somewhere, but there is a bolder, more edgy quality to Boddy's sound. This is synthesiser music with a rock solid foundation venturing as far as the imagination allows."

Electrifying Stuff Of Highest Caliber!

Kristian Persson | Helsingborg, Sweden | 02/02/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The name Ian Boddy is a name to remember when you want the best in electronic/experimental electronic music with a touch of early Tangerine Dream sound. It could perhaps best be described as 70's TD in terms of it's sound.



He always seem to amaze me with each of his releases he cranks out, there is somehow always something fresh and special to his sound. So there is no lack of imagination when Ian is on the experimental side of things.

The sound structure is very satisfying, and most tracks on this disc contains some very nice rhytms with a mysterious & spooky feel to it.



The start of the disc is quite eerie, almost frightening. But then things lightens up and the flow on the CD only gets better and better!. The rhytm is great and the almost industrial electro sound is made in perfect harmony. And with such variety and the blend of synthesizers he uses there is very little to nothing that can go wrong when Ian is in control.



If you want some of the best, look no further. This CD is defientely made to please fans of early TD and even some Klaus Schulze fans should have a look at this one. Not to be missed by anybody!



Simply put. It's like a fine wine, it only gets better with age. My warmest recommendations!



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