'Passage' takes its starting point from the mesmeric bass line of 'The Other Side of the Ocean' and gently sets sail on a calm and balmy voyage of the inner-psyche. This is meditational music with a kick: as melody starts to boil and bubble: free-form percussion and barely-contained space drone providing rich, absorbing dark ambient tones. If you were lucky enough to grab a copy of 'Between Seasons', then you're definitely going to need this. Already a contender for my record of 2012.
And here's a glowing review courtesy of Mike at Norman Records:
Ooh, this one’s right up my street. On here the mysterious Buddha On The Moon bust out two side-long jams with elements of drone and psychedelic rock, which seem to be based around simple echo-laden bass guitar melodies alongside processing and programming and ethereal washed out background vocals which are blended with synth drones to fascinating effect. The simple, repetitive, slooooooow bassline that anchors everything on the first side is totally hypnotic and when the cautiously understated, primal drums start to emerge from the fug about halfway through it has a total ritualistic Master Musicians Of Bukkake feel going on that I know a lot of you will appreciate. The second side, ‘Emergence’, is far more of an ambient drone trip, with less bassy and more shimmering drones gradually shifting and morphing for a refreshing tone bath. There’s totally immersive atmospheres here, but it’s too busy to really call drone, especially on the first side. It’s more of a slowed down, submerged psych drift with a nod to the post-dubby snail-like pacing of Sun Araw and the semi-musical psychedelic texturing of Expo 70. Sonic Oyster’s output tends to be pretty consistent but I think this is my favourite thing I’ve heard from them yet. Great job lads!
credits
released January 20, 2012
- The Other Side of the Ocean (Dedicated to the Space Weathermen Three)
- Emergence (For Anne, Nancy, and Barbara)
HK Kahng: electric basses, voices, processing, programming
Ron Rushing: drums
Nancy Novotny: additional voices
Thank you Andrew, Brian, Ron, and as ever and always Nan.
we're all beside a wooded creek, laying on this silken mossy chord, listening as leaves tumble down in succession. the pond nearby catches each leaf and we sync our thoughts using the chain of ripples in the water. thanks a lot for this one. recommended for relaxation or when it just gets to be too much out there Ews Nsj
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