| Lymbyc System from Tempe, AZ produces majestic and often rock-driven instrumental electronica using vintage synthesizers, drums, and laptop programming, influenced by Tortoise, Explosions in the Sky, and Four Tet. "Rest Easy/Age Kindly" has a slowly building, sparkling synth bed that transforms into a simple melody that ends quickly. The title track fades in on a soft, lullaby pattern, then adds a simple melody, power chords, and finally a rock beat on drums; the melody and rhythm morph several times over its 5+ minutes, for a suite-like effect. "Idle Wires" uses synth percussion panning from left to right over soft keyboard chords, for a flowing, dreamy feel devoid of melody, then adds a slow, cymbal-heavy drum track about half way through. "Fall Bicycle," my favorite track, includes a slightly off-kilter indie rock rhythm on drums, layered with a variety of keyboard melody fragments and synthesized percussion. "Truth Skull" uses a more hip-hop-derived drum pattern, angular keyboard melodies (like a distorted clavinet), vibe-like synth, glockenspiel, and voice samples. "Pittsburgh Left" has a more thumping rhythm with flute- and harpsichord-like melody patterns. "So We Can Sleep" is a soft, repetitive melody fragment on acoustic guitar with synth percussive noises that adds rock beat drums and trumpet melody lines about a third of the way in, then changes to soft, widely spaced piano chords and building noise. As should be evident, Lymbyc System lends itself less to description and more to listening, but their ever-changing palette of sounds and rhythms makes that experience fresh and thought-provoking. - KOOP |
1XLP/Out Of Print