Rural Sessions by Multicast

From the rural outposts of Colorado return Obliq Recording artists’ Multicast with a long awaited new release-this time a full-length endeavor. The Multicast boys have been in the studio for almost a year now recording “Rural Sessions” and the word around the Obliq office is it was well worth the wait. This is a 74-minute excursion into expansive soundscapes, head-nodding rhythms, counter melodies and spot-on improvisational electronics. “Rural Sessions” takes a rather refreshing approach to leftfield electronic music, doing away with glitch based DSP programming and falls more into territories of improvisation and session based recording, incorporating DIY analog sound sources with digital synthesis. This should surely please listeners familiar with sounds close encounters of the musical variety like contemporary electronic artists and labels such as Suction, L’uisine, Eno, Nonplace Urban Fields (or Bernt Friedmann), Tortoise, and City-Centre-Offices; but Multicast ups the ante bringing melody back to the fore like a modern Global Communication in the wrestling-ring smacking down Boards of Canada.

These are album-centric tracks and much in league of previous Multicast EP’s. “Phosphene” kicks off the album with full-on epic strings and a spectrum of synthesized noises akin to the crackling of a Geiger counter. “Mr. Hz (Takes a Jazz Break)” is an improvisational piece containing atmospheric guitar work sparked by sci-fi beats that transition into a dark and dubby bass excursion. Originally appearing on the debut Obliq Recordings compilation, “Tropicalda” returns re-mixed and mastered with vibrant and warm existential ambience. Ballerica completes the puzzle with the missing corner pieces from your brothers record collection, by answering the question “What do surf-music, Kraftwerk and Tangerine Dream have in common besides driving on the Autobahn?” The track “La Honda” employs chromatic and disjointed beats that sound like wet jolts of electricity amplified through the lead pipes of the kitchen sink with beautiful shimmering guitar. “Way Station” explores imaginary airport terminal-like spaces with a backdrop of serene ambience and non-discernable intercom simulations. “Calisto (Solar Sailor)”, originally appearing on last year’s ultra limited 8 inch floppy disk release, is now properly included here in context of complete works from Multicast. Exclusive to the CD only and never before released, the original 24-minute version of “Laura” finishes off this album, which will undoubtedly please Multicast listeners. The 2xLP version contains a different, never before released atmospheric reprise of “Laura” not contained on the CD.

Tracklist

1.	Phosphene	3:37

2.	Mr Hz (...takes a jazz break)	10:43

3.	Tropicalada	5:37

4.	Ballerica	7:22

5.	La Honda	8:24

6.	Way Station	7:50

7.	Calisto (Solar Sailor)	5:50

8.	Laura (original)	24:21

Credits

released September 3, 2001

Dave Alexander, Jeff Holland, Nathan Jantz

License