CD Reviews

Julian Lynch | Terra

Underwater Peoples (2011)

By JONATHAN DONALDSON | May 6, 2011

3.0 Stars

Although experimentation in music nowadays is certainly in vogue, there aren't many records that will straddle the line between commercial plausibility and healthy art-for-art's-sake like Julian Lynch's Terra. Unlike those of his "neo-psych" contemporaries who seem skeptical of compositional/tonal variety (Panda Bear, for instance, tends to stick to the same tones and voicings track after track), Lynch puts himself out on a limb and lets you question his sensibilities. On even the initial listen, Terra unfolds as a collection of distinct musical creations. Lynch pits more-traditional chamber arrangements against sitars and hand drums, heavily modulated synth leads that buzz like trumpets against gently circular chord figures, and melody against coy dissonance. In some ways, he conjures a more feminine, new-agey aspect of psychedelia than present ears might be accustomed to. Although his results can be flimsy, when his creations get legs under them, Terra is the bomb.

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Topics: CD Reviews , Music, New Music, experimental, More

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