I come to 'Stateless' with a blank page. While I'm vaguely aware of MARK BEAZLEY'S main project Rothko, I know little of their back catalogue, only that it's generally in the 'minimalist' vein and that they have been operating for over a decade now.
Thus, 'listen without prejudice' is the required approach, although if I'm being brutally honest, I'm not entirely surprised that 'Stateless' turns out to be a textured, instrumental workout rather than an anthemic, indie guitar record stuffed full of hook-y melodies.
The album was apparently inspired by a time of solitary retreat in the Welsh Brecon Beacons and it's certainly an introspective, reflective affair which requires patience from the listener. The tracks' titles are enigmatic and anonymous, in a Forward! Russia stylee, with the loping bassline, baritone guitar, plucked strings and touch of winter proffered by opening track 'Three Twenty Five' giving you a fair idea of the unhurried and dignified music on display here.
However, while 'Stateless' is a wholly instrumental affair, it's not just an amorphous mass which drains your resources while you wait for the tune to start. It's gentle and understated, sure, but if you've ever succumbed to the lure of under-rated geniuses like the Durutti Column's Vini Reilly or Mark Hollis from Talk Talk you'll find plenty to enjoy during the jazzy, nocturnal likes of 'Three Thirty Five' or 'Four Thirty Six'.
|
The downside of creating such fragile soundscapes, of course, is that they can become difficult to distinguish from one another after a while, especially when the song titles are so blatantly anonymous. Consequently, the main criticism I would level at 'Stateless' is that – the drone-y warmth of 'Four Fifty One' aside – it can sound rather interchangeable from its' mid-point on and the casual listener may find their attention wandering as the album approaches the finish line.
Ultimately, 'Stateless' will surely be welcomed in like an old friend by Mark Beazley's long-time supporters but will probably be bypassed by the great(er) unwashed. t's not the kind of record that screams for attention, but for all that, it inhabits a likeably blurry space of its' own and its' fragile, but orderly textures are certainly deserving of the respect of those who walk its' gentle hills and valleys.
Download demos of the songs on Stateless from Trace Recordings
|
