Electric Birds ‎– Gradations

There's something pleasing about the endless iterations of click and cut-based music, particularly when it's as warm and inviting as _Gradations_, from Electric Birds. "Cyclist" starts the album out on a neutral IDM note, but once the layers start building, as on the purring "Nightriders," things seem to come to life. "Painted Rooms" sounds like the illegitimate love child of Akufen and Tim Hecker -- not a bad thing at all! -- while "Astral Traveling" blends digital funk with some nice acoustic guitar riffs. The throbbing "Radia" is full of warm, suspended notes with some added bits for flavor. "Vox Canon" sets some tinkling tones to an off-kilter rhythm that never seems to sync up quite perfectly, not even as the track’s speed begins to decay. The title track serves up some of that Basic Channel dub goodness, and the final track, "Rian," chugs out on a quasi-industrial dirge that settles into its groove 2/3rds of the way through. Clicks and cuts to make your day!

Lovely little album. Solid sounds given time and space to play themselves out. Progressive noise Idealy suited to train journeys, as the scenery slips by and you contemplate Life the Universe and your next meal, it doesnt put a foot out of line.