Dynamics Of Vanishing Bodies
New Focus, 2020
8/10
Listen to Dynamics Of Vanishing Bodies
The New York guitarist and composer Brendon Randall-Myers offers us a first for him here, where he pens pieces for an electric guitar quartet, i.e. Dither. An avant-garde outfit, across nearly 40 minutes we’re offered soothing tunings, sonic wandering, strategic feedback and minimalism that is often turned into a highly refined art form.
“Missing Fundamentals” starts the listen and lays the mood well with repetition and dissonance unfolding in an abstract post-rock sort of way, and this droning minimalism continues to the softer, mesmerizing display of “Auras” that almost seems like it could soundtrack a sci-fi flick.
The back half of the album takes a dramatic twist into thicker, buzzing territory with the hypnotic “Trem Chorale/Harmonic Melody”, while “Vanishing Bodies (Lines And Loops)” exits the listen with a haunting quality as 4 guitars switch to looping and foot pedals in a highly unconventional landscape.
Dither is comprised of Taylor Levine, Joshua Lopes, James Moore and Gyan Riley and they pull off a fascinating performance of adventurous reverb, unpredictable structure and sound manipulation that you’re not likely to hear anywhere else.
Travels well with: Swans- leaving meaning; The Rileys- Way Out Yonder