Last updated 15 Apr 2008

The Mystifying Oracle "quintesscence" [The Sound-O-Mat (2002)]
By Wayne Dolman
Scintillating Spelling Bee

Drifting Psychedelic Downbeat Trip-Hop Ambient (and then some)

A new side project by at least one member of the anonymous ambient duo Austere (credits are listed for William Fuld, Elijah J. Bond and J. Simmons), this CDEP (an aside, who came up with calling a shorter LP or CD "extended play" anyway?) is three slow-moving, trippy trip-hop styled downtempo tracks that stradle a number of genres while never extending too far into any one, each separated by untitled pieces that oddly bind all the tracks into a whole.

The first is a beatless, ambient guitar introduction to the first real track, "sagacious gibber", which slowly builds up to a booming beat and bass punctuated by strange sounds and complex, almost "tribal" sounding conga percussion work. It is much like a Seefeel track played at 33 instead of 45, with strange and glistening sounds intertwined through the piece, should Seefeel have ever gotten into truly complicated percussion.

Another untitled piece seems to channel transmissions from outer space to keep the continuity into the second track, "effervescence", taking the listener off in another direction alltogether. A partial "cover" inspired by the lyrics of the jazz standard "You Go To My Head", dreamy, sultry vocals carry a track that again starts slowly and develops into a percussive, quirky ride full of distant sounding sad piano and lots of odd little sounds that make brief appearances, almost like strange tiny animals poking their heads up out of their holes and quickly shirking back. All this plays over wide ambient washes that sweep back and forth with chimes and bells also pealing in the background. A meloncholy track that manages not to become overbearing due to the wonderful odd bits that pop up through the track. Again, something like trip-hop, but then again, as far from Massive Attack et. al. as one might get.

Another break, this time an odd sample that's more and more interesting each time one hears it, and then the third track, an instrumental called "laggard's swag", the most minimal of the three but styled very similarly to the first song. The combo of rummy snares and staggering cymbals are finally grounded by a solid kick drum and build the foundation over which more droning, ambient pads and unusual sounds such as percussive vocal samples and more chimes and bells take the listener on a meandering journey for the duration.

The album closes out with a quote that sounds like Walt Witman but spoken by an old, sage voice that might be channeled from the next world, leaving the listener some place different than where they started but no closer to a conclusion than a beginning. This EP is somewhat maddening in its ability to refuse to play by the rules of most music conventions and genres, and seems to walk to its own beat and is ruled by its own laws, rather than to be constrained by convention. Given the repuation that the band Austere has for following their own personal, unique muse with no regard for commercial accessiblity nor really any intent to make it "easy" for their audience, those that give this relatively unknown gem a chance will be rewarded by surrendering themselves to it and letting it take them to new and different places, something that's harder and harder to find and do in our modern time. And for that, The Mystifying Oracle has become my able and willing guide, and I thank them for it.

Thanks For Listening.

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