Son of Earth, Improvements (side A)

Son of Earth have been a band for many years before 2009's Improvements — early releases include a 2001 CD-R and 2002's split LP with Double Leopards.  While their early work relied more on a drone-based palette, the pieces on Improvements often utilize more pointillistic sounds.  The album is split into six pieces, each feels like an improvisation around a consistent palette and theme.  One unusual track, for example, relies heavily on incomprehensible vocal noises more reminiscent of Berio than Jaap Blonk.  The resulting album crosses the most outside folk-psych groups like Lauhkeat Lampaat and The Hunter Gracchus with the minimalist, AMM-inspired improvisations typically found on Erstwhile releases.  The mastering job manages to both preserve too much murkiness and emphasize overly bright treble.  The cover images, and additional ones inside the booklet, reference Tony Martin's projections, which feels appropriate as he's worked with everyone from Morton Subotnick to 60s psychedelic bands — the inclusion of their photo inside of the abstract front cover feels stylistically incongruous.  The obi strip around the packaging is a nice touch.