William Basinski
A Shadow in Time



Release Date: 2017 | Tracklist

Review Summary: Basinski understands that less is more

“For David Robert Jones” is a piece that neither warrants much effort to digest nor explain. After all, once you’ve heard the first few minutes you’ve basically heard the whole thing; as the tape completes its dying loops it may weaken and fade, but except for the saxophone that rears its head after a few minutes there’s little variation. Basinski clearly understands that less is more. The saxophone is smothered in ambient nostalgia, calling out over and over from the recesses without demanding much attention. The mournful aspect it takes on is accentuated by the decaying loops; as the track progresses it becomes more and more ghostly, further abstracted and apart from the otherwise warm atmosphere. It’s a fittingly subtle and considered tribute to Bowie, one that doesn’t try too hard to do the man justice by emulating his eccentricity. “A Shadow In Time” differs in that it doesn’t have any looping motif, bustling and swelling with vibrancy without ever latching onto anything definite before expending its energy and disappearing. The little melodic notes Basinski peppers the end with are a nice touch; they help make the track a little bit more than just another standard ambient piece that starts off firm then slowly dissipates. They also provide a sense of finality often lacking in ambient music; a nice little parting gift so that we’re not just left with the dregs of a track we’ve already been listening to for twenty minutes.



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user ratings (88)
3.5
great


Comments:Add a Comment 
Mort.
January 31st 2017


25062 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

another mort. review, feedback always appreciated



this is on spotify - two tracks, each 20 mins long

Mort.
January 31st 2017


25062 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

also im aware i already have another review on the front page, but sput has been so slow recently and i posted that other one over a day ago so i didnt think it matters.

zaruyache
January 31st 2017


27362 Comments

Album Rating: 2.5 | Sound Off

yeah who cares. I think you coulda added a little more detail about what this is tho, instead of just mentioning tape loops and ambient.

Mort.
January 31st 2017


25062 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

i kept this brief because i was worried id try to drag out descriptions



and this is a pretty straight to the point record. i get your point though

Trebor.
Emeritus
January 31st 2017


59835 Comments


Mort you killin it man

Mort.
January 31st 2017


25062 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

Cheers treb

Mort.
January 31st 2017


25062 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

book?

insomniac15
Staff Reviewer
January 31st 2017


6175 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

Some more detailing would've been nice, a few sentences, not much. Anyway, this is well written, pos!

I like the album, haunting yet beautiful.



Listen if you haven't to Chihei Hatakeyama - Coastal Railroads in Memories or The Storm of Silence, they are really nice ambient albums!

Mort.
January 31st 2017


25062 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

thanks insomniac and thanks sach bby

deathschool
January 31st 2017


28620 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

Nice review, Mort. Will check.

deathschool
January 31st 2017


28620 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

That isn't all that surprising.

Mort.
January 31st 2017


25062 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

cheers fam



yeah no surprise there

ShitsofRain
January 31st 2017


8257 Comments


yeah, keep it up morti

Mort.
January 31st 2017


25062 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

will do probbly

SteakByrnes
January 31st 2017


29734 Comments


Pos af bro

Mort.
January 31st 2017


25062 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

thanks fam

DoofusWainwright
January 31st 2017


19991 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

Love the review Mort, Basinski is always class

Mort.
January 31st 2017


25062 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

thanks doof



and yeah he is, havent checked anything else by him except for this and the disintegration tapes. need to delve into his discography at some point

zaruyache
February 1st 2017


27362 Comments

Album Rating: 2.5 | Sound Off

that last long note the sax in the first track makes is the most annoying thing and completely takes me out of the drone.

rabidfish
February 1st 2017


8690 Comments

Album Rating: 3.0

It's chill and flows nice... Tapeloops I'm usually down for. Didn't feel that emotional but did get very introspective after a while.



Good for reading.



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