13 & God: the moniker masks the gentle meshing of
two groups notable for their creatively musical, trans-genre
endeavours. Raise that mask and Markus and Micha from
The Notwist and Doseone, Jel and Dax Pierson aka Themselves
(Doseone being the
highest profile of the latter for his part in the innovative
triumvirate that was once cLOUDDEAD).
The meeting is attributed to a co-tour coach breakdown
outside Toronto: such is the accidental music of chance
and here’s its result.
13 & God begins in Tom Waits-ian church
confessional mode. ‘I mean I know that people
die’ (whispered by a distant woman against a gentle
rush of noise). When the beats kick in, so too does
Doseone’s familiarly nasal voice. That voice you
could spot a mile off. Everything about the music’s
smudged and scratched – it sounds like somebody’s
method of creating a sonic patina is scratching wire
wool in circular motion on a sheet of stainless steel.
When that sound fades, it’s a relief, no mistake.
There are mournful melodies on a wind section echoed
by a barnacle-ridden piano (?). Low Heaven
proves to be a rather lovely and richly varied opener.
What follows does so in like patterns: Men Of Station
follows with more loveliness: whirring strings, plucked
guitar, Dr Rhythm percussion track, intimate vocals.
Ghostwork is all emphatic, skipping beats shadowed
by the patter of tablas, ruminative murmurs and backward
tones. The affair ends in silvered notes, the tune becoming
a ghost of itself.
The initial impression of the whole affair is low-key,
but familiarity – in inverse proportion to the
old saying regarding acquaintance and contempt –
here breeds affection and an appreciation of the gentle,
bordering upon tender, touch of the music.
Colin Buttimer
3/5 |
