D. Redford TriadThe Davis Redford Triad is predominantly a vehicle for Steven Wray Lobdell (occasional Faust-member) to showcase his echoplex-soaked guitar work. Funnily enough, the first track pays homage to the 60’s analog delay unit. Entitled ‘Echoplex Orchestral Movement Part 1’, it is, particularly as a first track, a rather seductive gradual build of noise-based textures which are sporadically penetrated by a very carefully chosen handful of pitches which add a subtle but needed contrast to the increasingly violent screeches and gratings of the surrounding material. ‘Apocalypse Greeting Card’ is the only track on the E.P which features some vocals. Although predominantly restricted to lyricless melismatic vocal melodies, there are a couple of instances of spoken word: “you say you’re a Hippie, you never say what you mean,.. just another blob in the sludge machine”. Not particularly enlightening, but it definitely contributes to the sound and atmosphere of this hypnotic track!
This rhythmically hypnotic quality is something that is evident in all but the two Echoplex Orchestral Movements. It allows Lobdell to weave and slide his Eastern-inspired melodic lines over the top of the surrounding material without a particularly intruding second idea. Unfortunately this is probably the major problem with the epic 18 minute ‘Plum Village’. Things start out interestingly enough with a slightly (I presume intentionally) out-of-tune guitar playing a slow arpeggiated chord whilst what might be a harmonium pulses and throbs in a contrasting rhythmical way setting up an intriguing cross-rhythmical feel which is impelling and delicate. Apart from some additions of some rather poorly recorded percussion (which stands out as the rest of the disc is of a good recording quality – particularly the guitars which soar majestically at times), the only really other thing that happens is that Lobdell comes in with some meandering distorted guitar lines. They sound effective at first but after a while it loses direction and energy and turns into a guitar-noodlefest. It is obvious that Lobdell is influenced heavily by Eastern music; however, I think that his melodic lines lack direction and consistency of idea when placed next to the well known masters such as the Indian Mandolinist, Upalappu Srinivas, for example. This means the music deteriorates and no musical idea is expressed or even showcased for any significant amount of time. It’s a shame on what is otherwise a pretty good offering. The highlight probably being, ‘Rabbit Love Call’ which starts out with a similar atmosphere to ‘Echoplex Orchestral movement Part 1’, but then expands into energetic throbbing noise with very creative use of sound layers which continually charge and flex the music.
The disc is rounded off with ‘Echoplex Orchestral Movement Part 4’ (don’t get confused – there are no parts 2 and 3!). More subdued than its partner track, it is one of the most successful balances of The Davis Redford Triad’s sound manipulation with Lobdell’s guitar work. It’s a nice way to end this EP which, although overly self-indulgent in one or two places, has just enough interest and skilful execution to make it worth a listen.
:: Davis Redford Triad/Ewige Blumenkraft - Holy Mountain, 2007.
