Lacoön
Immersion
(parnassus nump records PNR 40001-2) 1999
This
is one of the finest ambient recordings I have listened to
in a long time. 'Immersion" is comprised of seven tracks,
which span almost 68 minutes. All the music was composed,
recorded, mixed, and produced by John Broaddus
(Lacoön), a San Francisco composer. The album begins
with the deep liquid sounds of 'Molecular Streams' in which
Lacoön samples and electronic textures envelopes the
listener in a glowing, gentle sea of sound. It is followed
by the appropriately titled 'Hollow Tranquility' which
particularly recalls the sonic meditations of Tim Story in
it's delicate, austere minimalism. 'Liquid Prism' is a dark
ambient piece flowing like a train through a dark landscape,
with lights of cities passing by. No disturbance, no delay,
just a fine relaxing mood of listening to these flows,
intercepted by train bumps. With eyes closed, with eyes open
- darkness turning light everywhere. Just beautiful! The
album's highlight is the epic twenty-five minute closing
piece, 'Submersion'. The tones Lacoön produces, do
not give up their origin as they are processed, delayed,
distorted and looped to create intricate harmonies and
timbres not usually associated with an ordinary instrument.
But Broaddus ' triumph here does not lie merely in the
technical but in the emotional aspect of his music. The
tracks that make up Immersion are compelling and moody,
displaying Lacoön's talent for traversing the space,
ambient, and experimental genres with ease and grace.
This
is one of the finest ambient recordings I have listened to
in a long time. 'Immersion" is comprised of seven tracks,
which span almost 68 minutes. All the music was composed,
recorded, mixed, and produced by John Broaddus
(Lacoön), a San Francisco composer. The album begins
with the deep liquid sounds of 'Molecular Streams' in which
Lacoön samples and electronic textures envelopes the
listener in a glowing, gentle sea of sound. It is followed
by the appropriately titled 'Hollow Tranquility' which
particularly recalls the sonic meditations of Tim Story in
it's delicate, austere minimalism. 'Liquid Prism' is a dark
ambient piece flowing like a train through a dark landscape,
with lights of cities passing by. No disturbance, no delay,
just a fine relaxing mood of listening to these flows,
intercepted by train bumps. With eyes closed, with eyes open
- darkness turning light everywhere. Just beautiful! The
album's highlight is the epic twenty-five minute closing
piece, 'Submersion'. The tones Lacoön produces, do
not give up their origin as they are processed, delayed,
distorted and looped to create intricate harmonies and
timbres not usually associated with an ordinary instrument.
But Broaddus ' triumph here does not lie merely in the
technical but in the emotional aspect of his music. The
tracks that make up Immersion are compelling and moody,
displaying Lacoön's talent for traversing the space,
ambient, and experimental genres with ease and grace.