: foundry indices : reviews : sounds : : : news : pictures : words : : : the foundry : foundryshop : REVIEWS from the Electroambient Space Newsletter written by Phil Derby Electroambient Space site M. Bentley "This World" (Foundry, 2006) 21 tracks, 55.28 mins Here we have two slices of M. Bentley's sonic creations on one CD. The first 6 tracks create the 40-minute work Chronos & Kairos, a selection of works Bentley created and performed on tour in 2003. The theme of time weaves throughout the sounds and titles. Soft keys play over a ticking clock on "Time (Fabricated)," a calm reflective number that ticks right in to "Time (Retrograde)," with odd sounds suggestive of time running backward. In another play on words, "Sine (of the Times)" is presumably a sine wave going rrr-rrr-rrr up and down. "Pavane" has a more symphonic feel as it opens, moderately paced staccato notes marching along. But soon deep echoes thump along ominously, like the sound of something wicked this way coming. "Kairos (Storm)" starts with a loud clap of thunder, joined by melancholy sparse synths, serious stuff. Timepieces return in "Chronos (Night)," though the ticking is more cricket-like this time around. Piano follows the less is more approach that characterizes the music throughout. The last 15 tracks, each 1 minute long, were originally a 3" CD single from 2000 called Import, which I've had the pleasure to review in the past [for this review go here]. Part of a series, Import is designed to be 15 interchangeable parts. I haven't actually tried playing these small snippets of water, abstract sound and white noise in a different order, but I suppose I should. However, I rather like how certain pieces like "1st movement" and "2nd movement" seem to be companion pieces, so I tend to like to keep it as is. If a track is too repetitive, such as "3rd movement," the nice thing is it will be over in 60 seconds and something to your experimental ear's liking is likely to follow. Import is minimalist experimentation par excellence. © 2006 Phil Derby / Electroambient Space