This is the kind of debut that knocks on the door of Kranky andConstellation only to be carried directly into the pressing plant on asilver platter decorated with rose petals. This six tracker from mwvm(aka Michael Walton) shows a grasp of the ‘isms’ (minimalism, hypnotismand droneism) that’s already beyond the reach of acts with six times asmany members.(self released)
Themusic of Mwvm drifts out on the outer surface of song and orbitsthrough the trails and pulls of larger musical institutions. Throughfreezing cold deep space “Relayed in Stars” trembles like the mile backdetritus of the Nostromo as a shower of rock cuts through waveringeffects. The sliding drones and restrained strum drifts could beslivers from a Ry Cooder soundtrack.
Muchof thisrelease is swathed in swirls of ringing guitar which peal out,travelling from fog to foreground. The feedback throb and shadyatmosphere of “Wasted Year” is lifted into the light by a piece ofmajesticglowing guitar playing. “Sold” is made of altogether softer noise andthe rippling six string guitar briefly bursts through the drone andwarm sky background. For an album with cover art of ice blueundergrowth, there are plenty of balmy sonic moments to be immersedinto. Everything flows well except for “Everything Never Changes,”whichmoves on a jarring ring of sound rocked by little ruptures ofdisorientating electronic noise. But eve this soon settles languidlyinto a guitar line.
“Key” closes this collectionwith a high end whine that sounds like raindrops on bells recorded instark electric light. The combination of these moments of bleakness isalways more than balanced out by the hope radiating from the melodieshere. This is setting a high benchmark for a debut.
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