Global Crash creates iridescent waves of rhythm. Conceived
around 2008, and representing the culmination of a long exploration in the
world of electronic music, this project represents the ever-unfolding
musicality of Paul Holder.
At present,
there are two releases under this moniker; the first, ‘Fragility in
Technology’, and now, ‘Echolalia’. After spending some time with the new album,
I revisited ‘Fragility’. The advance in conception is astounding.
If we turn to a
dictionary, we see the following definitions for ‘Echolalia’:
1.
Psychiatry The immediate and involuntary
repetition of words or phrases just spoken by others
2.
An infant's
repetition of the sounds made by others, a normal occurrence in childhood
development.
Acknowledging the titles of the songs
elicits a similar feeling, that of responding to the outside world, possibly
through the naiveté of youth. ‘Baby’s Breath’, ‘Shimmer Reflection Underneath
The Water’, and ‘Spectral’ are three of the nine tracks listed, and the names
themselves imply some sense of reflected existence.
The fact that this project was conceived of as an album with individual
tracks is one of the reasons why it is a more satisfying listening experience
than ‘Fragility’. ‘Fragility’ was essentially a collection of bright spots
amidst an amorphous stream of unfolding sound; ‘Echolalia’ consists of
individually conceived tracks that are generally well presented from start to
finish.
There is a wide range of variety within
the scope of the project. On one hand, there is a track like ‘Until you’re
numb’, which lies somewhere in the realm of trip-hop and ambient; a slowed
down, jungle-esque beat wedded to a set of vaguely arrhythmic chordal and
melodic ideas. The upper register ideas seem to float out of the churning
rhythm like vapor from a fissure.
On the other hand we have ‘Delicate Cadence’, which produces a
completely different effect. In this case, the track evolves from the most
minimal elements, and each instrument enters in a more leisurely manner. A
major key vamp carries the body of the tune, and the effect is more uplifting.
More rhythmically defined than pure trance techno, this track would be a great
accompaniment to a beautiful sunrise in the woods or a cool down at the end of
a show.
The strengths of this recording lie in the realm of pacing, the unity of
the ideas presented, and the variety of styles on display in the music itself. The
end result is music that maintains a consistent point of view while diving into
many areas.
Go see this live. I have had the pleasure of experiencing this thing
twice now, and the difference in effect is highly noticeable. Admittedly, DJ
sets are generally a little less dynamic than a rock show. One guy scrunched
over a G4 isn’t very exciting. What is exciting is the increased texture
afforded by a superior sound system. On top of that, Paul has interest in
various media, which is incorporated into the proceedings. He likes to project
movies produced by a company dedicated to such things, and the accompanying
visuals enhance the music in generally interesting ways.
Check him out at….
Posts
