Signal To Noise Magazine - A Review by Darren Bergstein
(05/08)

CONNECTION FAILED
Richard Bone

Persistence is a virtue in the case of Richard Bone, who against all odds has diligently staked out singular territory in the electronic stratum, winging his way across a colorful sub-phyla of ambience, cross-eyed techno-pop, kitschy exotica, and flat-out strangeitude. Connection Failed (Quirkworks), seven discarded “backing tracks” for unsung collaborations recorded between 1997-2006, is evidence of a composer totally in sync with his senses, deft ears cocked to the studio’s paranormal outreach. Elegaic mirror moves accurately reflect in the titles—“The Moon Pool” and “Dreams and Whispers” are smooth carpet rides along silky electronic jet streams. Make no Bones about it, however: lest you think the artist is running up that Windham Hill, remember that true beauty lies far below the epidermis. Hush-hush synths aspirate and oxygenate yes, yet Bone’s muse is nothing if not eclectic, particularly during the minimalist congodance of “Impertinent Birds,” a five minute digital samba recalling David Van Tieghem’s late 80s piquant arrangements. Connection well-established, me thinks.

Review by Darren Bergstein