Parallax Beat Brothers is the music entity comprising
multi-percussionist Pete Lockett and sound artist Robin
Rimbaud, better known as Scanner. Both artists have
gained impeccable credentials over the years for their
work in a variety of fields. Lockett has worked with
artists as diverse as Björk,
Peter Gabriel, Nitin Sawhney, Joji Hirota, Luke
Vibert, Adrian Sherwood, Beth Orton, The Verve or
Zakir Hussain to name but a few, extending his reach
to pop, rock, world music and free jazz, while Rimbaud’s
approach has led him from using sample of phone conversations
captured through a scanner to working on various art
installations all over the world.
As Parallax Beat Brothers, the pair offer a sumptuous
and organic series of compositions rising from the juxtaposition
of minimal ambient soundscapes and pulsating rhythmic
structures. The album opens with a classic electronica
moment in the shape of Exhalation. Reminiscent
of Scanner’s early work, the piece’s central
element, Lockett’s colourful percussions, is caught
up in a whirlwind of ever-changing soundwaves, yet it
manages to remain strictly in focus all the way through.
This is in many ways indicative of the dynamics found
throughout this record. Although the most clearly perceptible
elements are Rimbaud’s, Lockett provide the backbone
for him to build on. On the title track, Lockett’s
tabla and Rimbaud’s beautifully evolutive soundscapes
are intricately linked and work together, building on
the uplifting melodic theme. Suitcase is a
further illustration of how this collaborative structure
works. The various percussive elements constantly emerge
from, and disappear into luscious waves of warm sounds,
allowing Lockett to introduce subtle changes in the
components of the piece without affecting its fragile
balance. Even in the most ambient moments (In Absence,
Submarine), it is Lockett’s presence
that is felt the most as he adds delicate textural chimes
or rain sticks just beneath the surface of Rimbaud’s
engaging swathes.
Enroute and The Darker The Star contain
additional textures from Fourth World trumpeter Jon
Hassell, who produced Eno’s seminal Ambient
series and has worked with artists as diverse as Talking
Heads, David Sylvian or The Kronos Quartet. While the
former hints at jazz tones, the latter presents an intriguing
dub formation with Hassell’s trumpet becoming
at once coarse and smooth.
The soundtrack resulting of this rich collaborative
effort between Pete Lockett and Scanner is truly fascinating
from start to finish. Atmospheric and organic, this
album offers an impressive range of textures and shade,
with new elements becoming more prominent with each
listen. This is an uncompromising piece of work by two
major artists.
4.6/5 |
