Another Root Strata edition that's destined to vanish almost immediately, this imperious analogue synth album from Portland's Golden Retriever has been released in a run of just 100 copies, so do act fast to secure yourself one. This duo consists of synthesizer wrangler Matt Carlson and bass clarinetist Jonathan Sielaff, whose intelligent and subtly melodious drones are bound to win favourable comparisons to like-minded contemporaries Emeralds and Oneohtrix Point Never. Over these five pieces the meeting point between clarinet and synthesizer is incredibly fluid, and often the timbral fingerprints of the two instruments become inseparable. All this lends itself to a symbiotic relationship between organic, natural sound and warm, supple electronics: a track like 'Moments Receding' intertwines strands of freeform tonality from each instrument across the widest of stereo expanses, and during the awesome opener 'False Entry', you hear the woodwind components stealthily weaving their way between solid pillars of analogue drone and rich, padded bass. It's a real pleasure to just bask in the electric glow of these tracks - and don't be fooled by the hand-packaged CD-R formatting of the release either: not only is Golden Retriever's eponymous debut a freakishly musical synthesizer record, it's also exceedingly well-produced, with every crisp modulation captured in glorious hi-fi with the utmost clarity. Grab one while you still can...
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Another Root Strata edition that's destined to vanish almost immediately, this imperious analogue synth album from Portland's Golden Retriever has been released in a run of just 100 copies, so do act fast to secure yourself one. This duo consists of synthesizer wrangler Matt Carlson and bass clarinetist Jonathan Sielaff, whose intelligent and subtly melodious drones are bound to win favourable comparisons to like-minded contemporaries Emeralds and Oneohtrix Point Never. Over these five pieces the meeting point between clarinet and synthesizer is incredibly fluid, and often the timbral fingerprints of the two instruments become inseparable. All this lends itself to a symbiotic relationship between organic, natural sound and warm, supple electronics: a track like 'Moments Receding' intertwines strands of freeform tonality from each instrument across the widest of stereo expanses, and during the awesome opener 'False Entry', you hear the woodwind components stealthily weaving their way between solid pillars of analogue drone and rich, padded bass. It's a real pleasure to just bask in the electric glow of these tracks - and don't be fooled by the hand-packaged CD-R formatting of the release either: not only is Golden Retriever's eponymous debut a freakishly musical synthesizer record, it's also exceedingly well-produced, with every crisp modulation captured in glorious hi-fi with the utmost clarity. Grab one while you still can...
Another Root Strata edition that's destined to vanish almost immediately, this imperious analogue synth album from Portland's Golden Retriever has been released in a run of just 100 copies, so do act fast to secure yourself one. This duo consists of synthesizer wrangler Matt Carlson and bass clarinetist Jonathan Sielaff, whose intelligent and subtly melodious drones are bound to win favourable comparisons to like-minded contemporaries Emeralds and Oneohtrix Point Never. Over these five pieces the meeting point between clarinet and synthesizer is incredibly fluid, and often the timbral fingerprints of the two instruments become inseparable. All this lends itself to a symbiotic relationship between organic, natural sound and warm, supple electronics: a track like 'Moments Receding' intertwines strands of freeform tonality from each instrument across the widest of stereo expanses, and during the awesome opener 'False Entry', you hear the woodwind components stealthily weaving their way between solid pillars of analogue drone and rich, padded bass. It's a real pleasure to just bask in the electric glow of these tracks - and don't be fooled by the hand-packaged CD-R formatting of the release either: not only is Golden Retriever's eponymous debut a freakishly musical synthesizer record, it's also exceedingly well-produced, with every crisp modulation captured in glorious hi-fi with the utmost clarity. Grab one while you still can...