Album Details

• Artist: Zomes
• Album: Improvisations
• Label: Thrill Jockey
• Year of Release: 2012
• ME Rating:
• Reviewed by: patchen on 2012-02-13

Lungfish guitarist Asa Osbourne continues his minimalist drone side-project Zomes, with three new hypnotic and spellbinding tracks. As the title suggests, "Improvisations" plays with a freedom in its loops and tones, keeping them fresh and unpredictable, proving yet again that there are many colors to be found in the simplest of grooves.

The first track is a simple blend of raga and ambient prog that is the most meditative of the three. The second features a simple, hermetic harmonium drone balanced with slight expressions both abrasive and silent, while the finale is more monotone but also more majestic; there is both a rising and resting feel that suggests a place of peace and awareness.

Recorded originally on cassette tape and then mastered for LP, "Improvisations" uses eastern classical and western avant-garde drones to blend with his guitar and electronic instruments to create a short but rich set of muscular yet inviting drones. As Zomes, Asa Osbourne explores space in many varied and memorable ways.

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