David Edwards was always interested in music, but it
is during his time at university in Swansea, a shot
away from his native Bristol, that he first became involved
in making music. Back in Bristol at the end of the nineties,
he began sending demos to a variety of UK records label.
First to respond was Manchester-based Melodic, and a
series of EPs and a first album, Chiffs-Chaffs And
Willow Warblers, rapidly followed. His music instantly
gained wide recognition for its distinctive sound and
delicate touches. Likened to the likes of Boards
Of Canada, Aphex
Twin or Autechre,
yet showing far more down-to-earth and concrete textures
and ambiences, this first album placed Minotaur Shock
in a league of its own.
Almost four years have passed since, with little sign
of life coming out of the Minotaur studio apart from
Rinse, an album collecting Edwards’s
first three EPs and a handful of previously unreleased
tracks. While Edwards, who also officiates as part of
indie pop outfit Bronze Age Fox, was busy recording
and touring with the band, he was also patiently assembling
his second album proper. Released on the seminal 4AD
imprint, Maritime denotes a significant change
of direction for Edwards. Although bearing some of the
elements that made Chiffs-Chaffs And Willow Warblers
a truly inspiring record, this new album relies on a
far more live and direct approach. From the light opener,
Muesli, to the beautiful soundscapes and pop
mood of Hilly and Mistaken Tourist
and the joyful melodic structure of Six Foolish
Fishermen, Edwards explores an incredibly varied
range of emotions and ambiences, considerably widening
the scope for his project.
Working with Bronze Age Fox, Edwards has had to focus
on song structures, and this approach clearly filters
through Maritime. Of the eleven tracks featured,
more than half would accommodate lyrics with ease, and
actually appear to follow a classic verse/bridge/chorus
formation. Yet, by retaining the instrumental nature
of his music, Edwards actually manages to give his compositions
a depth that added vocals would undoubtedly hinder.
From the eighties mood of Vigo Bay and Six
Foolish Fishermen to the classical influences of
Muesli or the rampant melancholy of Mistaken
Tourist and The Broads, Edwards appears
far more in control than on previous releases, affirming
his identity with stance.
Despite a very broad set of atmospheres, Maritime
appears very consistent. Seamlessly incorporating acoustic
and electronic sounds into his eclectic instrumental
pop and shaping them to fit the mood of each new track,
David Edwards produces here a very convincing second
album which is set to reaffirm his place amongst the
most talented musicians of his generation.
4.3/5 |
