The CV of Graham Dowdall, aka Gagarin, is rather impressive.
Originally a percussionist and composer with Manchester-based
Ludus in the early eighties, he has since worked with
legendary singer Nico for a while, and has collaborated
with John Cale, Eric Random & The Bedlamites, Cabaret
Voltaire, the Banshees, Fraction or Suns Of Arqa to
name but a few, before forming Sonexuno, a techno/trance
outfit with whom he released a series of 12inch. Dowdall
has also composed extensively for the Fishpool Dance
Theatre and is responsible for a sound portrait of Moscow
for Just TV television company. He started working on
his Gagarin project in 1995, releasing a series of rare
12inch EPs and a first album in 1997 on his label, Geo.
Nearly six years on, Dowdall returns to his project
with this second offering. Eartling collects
ten rather ambient tracks, all built around vast soundscapes
and soft-spoken beats. Developing gentle melodies over
progressive background, Dowdall’s intimate compositions
appear in turn minimalist or ornate. Setting the tone
from the opening moment, he rarely diverges from his
set path, simply offering variations on a theme. Echoes
of more elaborated music or human voices forms sometimes
cross in the background, but nothing really comes to
disturb the quiet evolution. If he introduces some slightly
harsher elements on Rtql8, the whole thing
remains predominantly introverted and contemplative.
This could be music to fall asleep with, ideal soundtrack
from dream sequences. Despite the undeniable quality
of the compositions and the impeccable production work,
Earthling is very often hit-and-miss, at times
lacking of proper direction. If Putik or 4ssq
are interesting enough, Dowdall seems to get lost in
the wide-open spaces he creates, especially on the first
half of this record. When the compositions appear to
be gathering pace, past Cycad, Earthling
reveals its strangely hypnotic nature, especially on
Sgurr and Runere, on which a voice
calls “Hudini, are you here?”. The choice
of this sample is not fortuitous, as the dense sonic
landscapes finally seem to escape, developing into more
cinematic forms.
Earthling is not by any mean a groundbreaking
record; yet, Graham Dowdall offers here a peaceful collection
of warm electronica, sometimes evoking the more dreamy
side of Boards Of Canada
or Isan. If he doesn’t
manage to maintain sufficient interest all the way through,
the most effective tracks possess enough quality to
save this record from complete slumber.
2.7/5 |
