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Morgan Doctor "Is This Home" Downtempo beats from Morgan Doctor.
With the release of her disc "Is This Home", Morgan Doctor has put
together a stunning collection of songs conceptually linked by the ideas
of home and our relations to same. It's an impressive work using
acoustic instruments and processed or looped material in a seemless
mix that both entrances and inspires. Ideas of what we call home, how we
connect with it, and our spiritual connections to it are all addressed in
an artistic and creatively satisfying way and, best of all, it's really
quite groovy all at the same time.
The spoken word introduction "Where You Live" describes home as a
physical location or place created by oneself and sets the tone for the
disc, a cerebral context for the work to follow. It leads nicely
into "Belgium", a violin driven piece that pulses with warmly processed
percussion tones and chiming guitar. It's a very rich track, something
that surrounds the listener in an enveloping way.
"Montreal" is up next, a shimmering song featuring the vocals of Tamara
Williamson. It's a very relaxed track, a languid vocal that drifts and
flows like a slow moving river. Sounds and instruments move throughout
the soundfield completly utilizing the space of the song and creating a
truly full environment.
"Helms in the Morning" is a more minimal piece, using sparse instrumentation
with a series of repeated phrases and loops. It's a very effective track,
succeeding in creating a strong mood and sense of location, with the
feelings of the space created lasting long after the song's last notes have
faded.
"Ellikon Marktplatz" incorporates strings, field recordings and snatches
of dialogue, all blended in a beautiful way to suggest a stroll through
public spaces, with overheard conversations and fleeting discussions on
the periphery of the senses.
Leah Salomaa provides vocals on "From the Cold", another chill track that
uses the idea of warmth as a metaphor for the safety and security of home.
It moves along at a very relaxed pace, very serene and calm.
"Queen in Parkdale" is a more upbeat track, using processed samples and
loops alongside acoustic instruments, resulting in a crunchy and engaging
work that suggests the bustle of an urban space.
"How I Love You" is a jazzy instrumental with some very tasty bass work
and lovely brushed drums. It has a cool and smoky feel to it, something
to sway to in a smoky club off the beaten path where only the coolest
people know where to go. I defy you not to get caught up in the groove
of this one.
"Agoya Boy" follows, a haunting piece using tribal percussion playing behind a child's voice.
There's a sense of mysticism to this track, a feeling of ritual and magic,
a sense of faith and belief that lends itself to being caught up in the
moment. It inspires movement and flow, a steady groove deep in the body
that continues throughout it's length. Very possibly my favorite track
on the disc,
"Drolma-la" features Tina Park's voicework, repeating phrases over a sparse
guitar and percussion backing. It's a very hypnotic track, beguiling in
it's steady pulse and tone, wrapping around the listener and drawing them
under it's spell. Beautiful.
"Albilynn Du Sud" is a lovely track that uses a hand percussion instrument
called a hang. It's a very interesting sound, rich in tone and melodicism
and Morgan plays it with wonderful skill and precision. Very beautiful.
"Centre Island" closes the disc, a hypnotic track where hand drums and
repeated phrases loop and swell and build in entrancing ways over the
course of it's eighteen minute length. Truly beguiling.
Throughout the songs on this disc I can't help but reflect on the many
diverse ways in which we look at places, the ways we see them and the
ways that we identify with them. It's no small feat to execute a concept
so effectively, and there's no doubt in my mind that Morgan Doctor
deserves high praise for the work on "Is This Home".
rik - ping things
last updated 07/09/06
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