Nomad Frequencies

Album review

The second full-length by John Lemke reflects the documentary composer's eclectic spirit and skill for adventurous sound design, meshing numerous genres with ease. Dramatic strings, pianos, and woodwinds populate his lush, suspenseful pieces, and he uses inventive and obscure recording techniques to achieve haunting sonic effects. His beats reference dub, drum'n'bass, and ambient techno, but it never feels like he's dabbling in those styles or engaging in genre exercises. The album is never a predictable listening experience. After starting out slow and still, "The Unwinding" gradually builds up to an exciting, colorful section with splashing drums and fluttering clarinets. "Vessel" places Latin piano rhythms and saxophones around pounding techno beats, with everything running in intricate time signatures. "Corroder" goes for grand sadness, starting out like a distant cousin of the KLF's Chill Out before traveling in a more jacked-up rhythmic vehicle, with gritty bass and kicking beats surrounded by a sphere of chaotic saxophones and mournful strings. It seems almost inevitable that Lemke's expressive melodies exhibit a cinematic quality, but this album doesn't quite sound like a soundtrack without a film. The individual pieces have their own distinct personalities and stand alone. Nomad Frequencies is meant to be listened to as a whole, however, and it's often a thrilling experience.

© Paul Simpson /TiVo