John McEntire
'Reach The Rock' Soundtrack
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John McEntire
'Reach The Rock' Soundtrack
Hefty, 1999
RiYL: Tortoise, The Sea & Cake, Directions In Music |
Tortoise's sound has always touched on elements of film score music, and "Reach The Rock" allows McEntire an opportunity to indulge full-scale. Seven tracks were assembled entirely by McEntire, Tortoise, Bundy K. Brown, The Sea & Cake, Polvo and Dianogah round out the remaining five.
Instead of filling this CD with leftovers or outtakes, the artists composed new tracks while watching the scenes in which their music was going to appear. And leftovers these sure ain't: Tortoise's loose-groovin' "In A Thimble" is better than anything on 1998's TNT, and the Sea & Cake's loopy "Window Lights" expands nicely on the electronic vibe of its 1997 The Fawn album. Brown's "Drift" puts a more techno-tronic spin on his superb 1996 Directions In Music project.
McEntire's solo tracks jumpstart the mind and please the ears. The languid bass bliss of "Overview" contemplates life's uncertainties, while the beat-tastic "Quinn Goes To Town" has seduction written all over it. The synth-heavy "Lisa Arrives" is melodic brain candy of the highest order, while "Main Title" tingles with vibes, far-off drum rolls and subtle swatches of guitar. In all, a very satisfying step beyond McEntire's sonic manipulations with his bread-and-butter bands.
JONATHAN COHEN | Jonathan Cohen co-created Nude As The News with his Indiana University mates Troy Carpenter and Ben French. When not traversing the globe for business and pleasure, he holds down the fort as a senior editor for Billboard in New York. Stop him and he just may ask, "what for lunch?"