Exposé Magazine
(08/03)
INDIUM
Richard Bone
Indium is American
composer Richard Bone's latest electronic ambient album. The CD contains
new material and some music written for the First International Festival
of ELectronic, Electroacoustic, Experimental and Avant-Garde Music in St.
Petersburg -- an event headed by Indium producer Artemiy Artemiev.
"Indium P-1" sets the tone for the rest of the album and is focused around
soft piano and synth parts elevating over a backdrop of atmospheric samples
and washes. Piano and string-based synth sounds provide most of the melodic
content in the songs. In the last couple of tracks, the piano is absent and
the ethereal sweeping synth textures take center stage. Lots of the background
sounds and swirls are brittle and metallic sounding electronic tones, but
remain fluid nevertheless. The album's closer "Indium P-II" is a good example
of this. This 30-minute track also provides the soundtrack to a recent
limited-edition ambient video, also called Indium. Perhaps this clangorous
aspect of the compositions is the origin of the album's title? All the
instruments on Indium sound keyboard or computer based. Sampling
notwithstanding, there aren't any obvious percussion, bass, or guitar instruments
used. That's not to say Bone uses everyday or run-of-the-mill keyboard patches.
The tone selection actually sounds quite vibrant and shifting. He does a
good job keeping the music interesting, even though the pace is slow and
tranquil throughout. Electronic ambient fans should enjoy this.
- Mike Grimes
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