Aerial Roots by C.J. Boyd
Deep-sea-diving for the hungry and alone, this album weds a dark minimalism subtle but inspired structures that sneak up and smother you in your sleep. Often flowing from singular, meditative bass lines into explosive, layered, and hugely complex walls of sound, this record burns with masterfully orchestrated waves of bass loops coupled with improvisational prowess. Utilizing bass guitar and double bass, with the occasional harmonica, melodica and some human-mouth-sounds, Boyd creates these lush arrangements that will send you dreaming.
Electric bass guitar, double bass, percussion, harmonica, melodica, voice by C.J. BOYD
Sound engineering and co-production by EVAN HYDZIK.
Mastered by SANDRO PERRI.
Album artwork by AARON TANNER.
Inspiration by ANTONIO NEGRI, BRIAN ENO, DEAN MORIARTY.
SOME REVIEWS OF THIS ALBUM:
“Aerial Roots is an expansive aural state of being on par with the metaphysical experience. ...There are moments of paroxysms in which sound build to explosive heights, but for the most part Boyd maintains the calm, reigns it in, and, in a way, tames it."
--from FensePost
Read the whole review here:
http://www.fensepost.com/main/2009/11/11/cj-boyd-aerial-roots-album-review/
"Seemingly without effort, the first 15-minute track drew me in and covered me in a warm, cozy blanket of dreaminess. My pulse slowed, my pupils dilated, and I found myself drifting out into a calm, mental sea. When the first semblance of rhythm appears at the 8-minute mark, it doesn’t even feel necessary... Ambient, like jazz, dub, doom rock, and other party killers, is not for everyone. It requires some patience and a willingness to let go of some front-brain cognitive ability. But the mark of a good artist is how quickly it can willingly lead you into its soundscape and how strange it feels when you leave it."
--from Read Junk
Read the whole review here:
http://www.readjunk.com/reviews/cdreviews/cj-boyd-aerial-roots/#more-18497
"I try to use the word genius very carefully so I will use the words wildly inventive and talented when speaking about the latest musician to sign with Joyful Noise, C.J. Boyd. Boyd has been dragging his upright bass around the world for years, and this November he will release his newest work, the 45 minute three track adventure, called Aerial Roots. Beginning with the tiniest basslines, and then slowly buildings and shifting and multiplying, Boyd takes his time with this complex collection and truly lays firm roots. The texture of Boyd's music ranges from delicate meditations to explosive, layered, and hugely complex walls of sound, CJ masterfully orchestrates waves of bass loops coupled with Jazz-driven improvisational prowess. His sound defies classification and soars every close to the furthest reaches of music... Aerial Root builds profoundly upon that release as he continues to experiment and explore. His work makes you step back and reflect upon everything you are and everything you want to be."
--from What To Wear During an Orange Alert?
Read the whole review here:
http://www.orangealert.net/fscjboyd
"CJ Boyd is one such man taking a decidedly obtuse approach to music. Making things even less commercially oriented...the songs on this album are long...very, very long. Only three tracks here. The first is over fifteen minutes long, the second almost nine minutes, and the third close to twenty minutes. CJ is the only player on this album...utilizing his skills on electric bass, double bass, harmonica, melodica, and percussion. The songs don't really fit specifically within any one genre...but there are plenty of traces of modern classical and jazz and ambient music here. The lengthy songs are a plus...because they allow Boyd to really relax and manipulate sound at his own pace. Really beautiful sparse stuff...that sounds even better if you turn the volume way, way up. Cool mentally challenging compositions from a man with a truly inventive mind. Recommended. "
--from babysue
Read the whole review here:
http://www.babysue.com/2009-Oct-LMNOP-Reviews.html#anchor30019
"pretty damn enticing... The closest sound it can be compared to is Mark McGuire minus the tape hiss and samples. It consists of three tracks, "Everytime I Don The Ski Mask" (a little Don Cab-esque, dontchathink?), "Pensive Pez," and "We Know Time," all of which blend to make one consistent and cohesive album."
--from Olive Music
Read the whole review here:
http://olive-music.blogspot.com/2009/09/review-cj-boyd-aerial-roots-joyful.html
"...its echoing and atmospheric... its dark, heavy... It’s very minimal and repetitive but the droned overtones add an air of richness to the piece. Simultaneously simple and complex, Aerial Roots lives up to its name... you can marvel at Boyd’s technical skill and creative use of instrumentation."
--from Stereo Subversion
Read the whole review here:
http://www.stereosubversion.com/reviews/album-reviews/cj-boyd-aerial-roots-10-04-2009/
Tracklist
| 1. | Every time I don the ski mask | 15:14 |
| 2. | pensive pez | 8:54 |
| 3. | we know time | 19:56 |
Credits
Electric bass guitar, double bass, percussion, harmonica, melodica, voice by C.J. BOYD
Sound engineering and co-production by EVAN HYDZIK.
Mastered by SANDRO PERRI.
Album artwork by AARON TANNER.
Inspiration by ANTONIO NEGRI, BRIAN ENO, DEAN MORIARTY.
License
CC BY-NC-SA 3.0. See the Creative Commons website for details.
C.J. Boyd is an oceanic bassist and composer without a fixed home, on perpetual tour since March of 2008. Besides swimming solo through waves of bass, his recent projects include Kurva Choir, Desert Center, Rhonya, and Move. In the small handful of hours not devoted to playing, driving, booking, he runs the label Obsolete Media Objects and takes walks every day.