Search - Wisp :: Shimmering Hour

Stellar release from a new electronic music talent

somethingexcellent | Lincoln, NE United States | 05/19/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

"The story of Wisp is sort of convoluted, but only because of the prankster history of the label that his latest album arrives on. A couple years back, there was a lot of confusion on the internet about a track by Wisp, as many thought it was something by The Tuss (who many people still think is a pseudonym of Aphex Twin). As it turns out, though, Wisp is very much his own man (who goes by the name of Reid Dunn and lives in Niagara Falls, NY), and although he has released music on his own and even the currently-defunct Sublight label (run by Aaron Funk), The Shimmering Hour will largely act as his big introduction to the world.



And what an introduction it is. Of course, there is a noticeable (and easy, and lazy) comparison to both The Tuss and even Aphex Twin, but this fourteen song album stands plenty strong on its own in a field that's become rather crowded over the years. Drawing inspiration from all kinds of obscure mythology, video games, and a variety of modern musicians, Dunn has managed to create an instrumental electronic music album that definitely acts as a signal of a major new talent.



I have to say that over the course of the past couple years, my brain has churned through scads of music that falls into a similar genre, but there are only a rare few artists that have managed to actually crack the upper crust (including Clark and Aaron Funk at times under different guises) for various reasons.



So, what makes The Shimmering Hour stand out? There are several reasons, but largely it comes down to the overarching themes of songwriting and craft. Running about seventy minutes, there are only a few small spots that aren't egging the listener forward, and it's a release that's both incredibly melodic, but also amazingly crisp, with rhythmic flourishes and tonal bursts that will make year ears prick up on play after play.



"Keeper Of The Hills" is a perfect example, starting out slow with some hollow and sparse percussion and soft wafts of synths before more and more elements drift in and pull it all together more tightly. About a third of the way in, it cracks off into a more aggressive piece, with filtered vocal noises, acid bass lines, and cracking beats before string flourishes and an incredibly playful finale put a smile on your face. It's a dense six minutes, but it never feels that way, as it moves from each section to the next with a deft hand.



"Cultus Klatawa" is even more giddy, with another slow-build beginning that leaps off into delirious breakbeat programming, string swirls, bouncy synths, and gurgling vocal snippets. By the time the latter third starts firing on all cylinders (with some slurpy backwards percussion hits), it reaches a dizzying high that ranks among the best cuts I've heard this year so far.



I'm sure that some people will just lump it in with the whole Rephlex/IDM/Aphex clone gang, but if you've ever felt yourself tickled in the past by analogue-tinted electronic music with creative and seriously moving programming, you need to check this out.



(from somethingexcellent reviews)"

The shimmering sounds

0=0 | Earth | 09/15/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Wisp has a truckload of quality tunes in his back catalogue, and this one is no exception, though it is exceptionally good. What an appropriate title too, as the music on this disc is so alive and exploding with magical sounds just begging to infiltrate your ears and take you to a special place. The cover art sets the tone as well, as the melodies and compositions remind me of the Autumn season and the spectacular, bitter sweet changes taking place amidst the forrests and the natural world throughout certain parts of North America.



Yes, sure the "drill n' bass" sound has been done often, but Wisp, much like Squarepusher, still manages to take it to new, glorious heights. In a sense, this Rephlex release plays somewhat like a Wisp resume, showcasing the man's strengths and abilities in their many forms, yet is very much a cohesive release. Lots of wonderous synths mix and mingle with the brain-tickling beats making for an exciting, adventurous, emotion-fueled lp. Forget genres, styles, etc - the truth is, this is dazzlingly good music from one of the overlooked masters of our time. It would be a shame to pass this one over."