kandodo – k2o (Thrill Jockey)
19 August 2013
LP/CD/DL
Let not the
fact that kandodo starts with a lower case ‘k’ deceive you. This is not an album to be understated. As a member of The Heads and a John Peel
‘sessionee’, Simon Price has been around for a while. k2o is an enthralling album of superbly put
together guitar and keyboard instrumentals which reveal more hidden depths on
every listen.
There are
signs of the albums promise with opener ‘slowah’, fading in with synth before
some interesting guitar layers make their appearance. A delicate throb throughout with the eventual
reserved percussion moving the track along.
Soundbytes from a tour of Elvis Presley’s home on the cleverly titled
‘grace and’, accompany echoing and louder guitars, and, sounds from a rippling
shoreline feature in ‘waves’. You can
imagine Price playing his guitar whilst sat on the beach.
The eleven
minute ‘kandy rock mountain’ could be something taken from The Beatles’ acid
adventures as it weaves a gorgeous, hypnotic myriad of sounds that drift in and
out beautifully. It somehow resists the chance
to introduce a crashing drum and is more the better for denying the urge. Synthesizers hold the track together whilst
fragile guitar work adds a certain Eastern feel.
The Blues
tinged ‘july 28th’ is the new soundtrack for your daily horse ride
through dusty deserts with its crying guitar over an ancient Red Indian
percussive back-drop. Not really going
anywhere, but, at the same time taking you on a long calming journey.
The album
of just six tracks closes with the mammoth ‘swim into the sun’. A twenty-two minute opus complete with
chatting crowds, speeding cars and lapping water. On the vinyl version of the album, it takes
up one full side, not surprising at its length, but, it’s well deserving. Slightly more upbeat with drums from fellow
Head, Wayne Maskell, its length doesn’t really become an issue and it rises and
rises. It is said that the track took
two years to fully complete and it’s easy to see why, as its steady beat continually
meets with washes of sound. It’s
ambitious, and, could well have faded into nothing but obvious pretentiousness,
but, it keeps going and is rather wonderful for it.
8.5/10
Links
Published on Louder Than War 19/08/13 - here
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