Monday, September 26, 2011

Global Crash


Global Crash creates iridescent waves of rhythm. Conceived around 2008, and representing the culmination of a long exploration in the world of electronic music, this project represents the ever-unfolding musicality of Paul Holder.
      At present, there are two releases under this moniker; the first, ‘Fragility in Technology’, and now, ‘Echolalia’. After spending some time with the new album, I revisited ‘Fragility’. The advance in conception is astounding.
     If we turn to a dictionary, we see the following definitions for ‘Echolalia’:
1. Psychiatry The immediate and involuntary repetition of words or phrases just spoken by others
2. An infant's repetition of the sounds made by others, a normal occurrence in childhood development.
      Acknowledging the titles of the songs elicits a similar feeling, that of responding to the outside world, possibly through the naiveté of youth. ‘Baby’s Breath’, ‘Shimmer Reflection Underneath The Water’, and ‘Spectral’ are three of the nine tracks listed, and the names themselves imply some sense of reflected existence.
     The fact that this project was conceived of as an album with individual tracks is one of the reasons why it is a more satisfying listening experience than ‘Fragility’. ‘Fragility’ was essentially a collection of bright spots amidst an amorphous stream of unfolding sound; ‘Echolalia’ consists of individually conceived tracks that are generally well presented from start to finish.
      There is a wide range of variety within the scope of the project. On one hand, there is a track like ‘Until you’re numb’, which lies somewhere in the realm of trip-hop and ambient; a slowed down, jungle-esque beat wedded to a set of vaguely arrhythmic chordal and melodic ideas. The upper register ideas seem to float out of the churning rhythm like vapor from a fissure.
     On the other hand we have ‘Delicate Cadence’, which produces a completely different effect. In this case, the track evolves from the most minimal elements, and each instrument enters in a more leisurely manner. A major key vamp carries the body of the tune, and the effect is more uplifting. More rhythmically defined than pure trance techno, this track would be a great accompaniment to a beautiful sunrise in the woods or a cool down at the end of a show.
     The strengths of this recording lie in the realm of pacing, the unity of the ideas presented, and the variety of styles on display in the music itself. The end result is music that maintains a consistent point of view while diving into many areas.
     Go see this live. I have had the pleasure of experiencing this thing twice now, and the difference in effect is highly noticeable. Admittedly, DJ sets are generally a little less dynamic than a rock show. One guy scrunched over a G4 isn’t very exciting. What is exciting is the increased texture afforded by a superior sound system. On top of that, Paul has interest in various media, which is incorporated into the proceedings. He likes to project movies produced by a company dedicated to such things, and the accompanying visuals enhance the music in generally interesting ways.

Check him out at….



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