Sunday, October 23, 2011

John Wiggins, All the Truth at Once (side A)

1986's All the Truth at Once establishes an interestingly layered sound field with a lot of dynamics.  Rhythmic patterns appear frequently, but they never last long or establish any sort of groove.  Minimal vocals cut in and out, along with occasional phrases that are obviously sampled.  Analog synth drones and warbles also interact with the other sounds in passing.  The album is sparse and rapidly evolving, without ever resorting to the feel of quick-cuts that became popular a few years later.  It sounds murky, slightly lo-fi, and very distinctive.  The packaging seems to have used early, low-budget digital design software to achieve a look that seems dated but still graceful.

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