Scanner – The Homeland Of Electricity (Album – DiN)
Genre/Influences: Experimental, Ambient-Electro, IDM, Cinematic.
Format: Digital, CD.
Background/Info: I realized Robin Rimbaud released his first album thirty years ago now. What followed was an awesome career wherein his sonic alter-ego Scanner became a true reference when it come to experimental with electronic sounds resulting in Ambient/Experimental music, but still more danceable productions. About this new opus and ‘rather prophetically Rimbaud states that this album was indebted to the work of the Ukranian film maker Laris Shepitko.’
Content: Scanner moves on experimenting with sounds and noises, covering different influences, which are constantly coming back track after track. Taking off a pure Ambient way he progressively moves towards dreamy, evasive, passages accomplished with refined, crystalline, sound treatments, but also injects deep, groovy, bass lines to the work. At the last part of the work you’ll even notice a Technoid sequence mixed with astral noises.
+ + + : The work is diversified although characterized by its constant, Ambient- & Experimental approach. The work has a strong space-like dimension leading the listener into an imaginary-, and abyssal world. The work sounds pretty accessible through the addition of slow rhythms. The British artist confirms to be a true sound architect and therefor he remains a reference in modern Ambient/Experimental music.
– – – : From a very personal point of view I sometimes miss a melodic touch.
Conclusion: Scanner is an invitation to visit imaginary places created by a sonic canvas of the artist.
Best songs: “Beginning Of An Unknown Century”, “Acentria”, “Another Aircraft”, “Artemovsk”.
Rate: 7½.
Artist: www.scannerdot.com / www.facebook.com/scannerdot
Label: https://din.org.uk / www.facebook.com/theianboddy
About Scanner
Scanner is the recording name of British electronic musician Robin Rimbaud, born 6 May 1964 in Southfields, London. Rimbaud took the name from his early use of cell phone and police scanners as sound sources, picking up radio and mobile phone signals as raw material for his compositions. Early albums include “Scanner 1” (1992), “Scanner 2” (1993), and “Mass Observation” (1994), followed later by “Delivery” (1997) and “An Ascent” (2020).
Rimbaud is also a member of the band Githead alongside Wire’s Colin Newman and Malka Spigel, and works as a music and art critic and record producer. “The Homeland Of Electricity”, reviewed here, was released on DiN, the label run by Ian Boddy.
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