All The Way

Approfondimenti

If someone asks what electronica is, the best response is "many different things." Electronica can be anything from the harsh, abrasive sensory assault of techno played at maximum volume in a rave or club setting to the lush, sensuous sounds of chillout and downtempo. Depending on the artist, electronica might choose to gently wine and dine the listener or -- on the other hand -- may take great pleasure in beating, punching, stomping and pounding the listener into submission (techno has a long history of doing a lot of beating, punching, stomping and pounding). In the case of the New York City-based Growing, electronica has often been described as a drone -- and the word "drone" frequently applies on All the Way. But even though this 2007/2008 recording can be quite repetitious, there is still a fair amount of variety. Parts of the instrumental 36-minute disc are mildly abrasive (although not ultra-abrasive), but much of the time, All the Way is more dreamy than anything. The fact that instrumentals like "Wrong Ride," "Green Flag," "Reconstruction," and "Lens Around" tend to be repetitious is not a bad thing, and anyone who finds Growing's use of repetition to be problematic is missing the point. Growing often go for musical hypnosis; therefore, repetition is not only advisable for them -- it is downright necessary. It is an effective tool in their high-tech arsenal. All the Way isn't Growing's best or most essential release, but it's a likable outing and should have no problem appealing to the New Yorkers' hardcore followers.
© Alex Henderson /TiVo