Mason
Jones
"The Crystalline World of Memory" CDR
Public
Eyesore
Genres: experimental, space rock, solo guitar improv
Nov 4 - 10 2002 |
Mason
Jones is no stranger to accessibility. Having played in
improvisational space rock band Subarachnoid Space, he
certainly knows how to keep his audience engaged, showing off melody
and rhythm in the face of dull experimentation. So it is no surprise
that The Crystalline World of Melody, his latest effort, is a
completely engaging listen.
From the very first track, "Snow in the Morning," Mason's
off to a good start - he begins with some chiming guitar notes and
then manipulates them into the form of a guitar solo, maintaining a
sense of tone and rhythm throughout. The way in which he presents it,
laid on top of a dense, reverb-enhanced ambiance, is a direct
throwback to Jones' space rock roots.
"The Last Remembered Moment," meanwhile, is a creepy
little space folk-esque number that recalls some of Mogwai's
more restrained bits, and is composed of Mason's guitar soloing played
over a mysterious, layered guitar noise background. And "The
Crystal View" sees him going for a little bit of a rock-based
approach, introducing semi-traditional axe-solo elements and
mock-riffs to the mix. "That Which We Leave Behind"
continues in this vein, turning up the distortion and presenting a
solo that would fit straight into a heavy metal band's repertoire
without question (well, sort of).
Over the duration of Memory, Mason manages to remain
reasonably restrained, holding himself back from any fast-paced guitar
freak-outs. While sometimes he does turn on the effects and go for a
stronger sound, there is always a sense of "holding back"
present. However, his mastery of improvisation still allows him to
mess with your mind, and the result is ten pieces that are low in
noise, but high in suspense and tension.
82%
Matt Shimmer [Vitals:
9 tracks; distributed by the
label;
released 2002] |