Human Metronome ‎– The Child Set Free

Human Metronome "The Child Set Free" CD

Human Metronome aka Eelke van Hoof comes from Eindhoven, The Netherlands, with two full length CDs on his discography (one of them is co-work with 33 Tetragammon entitled "Resonating Earth" from 2009) plus another 4 download only albums. "The Child Set Free" opens with "Gi", over 19 minutes long minimally and naturally sounding slow-motion soundscape enriched by some gentle tribal drumming and occasional bamboo flute. More drones and sharper strings appear later and add more tension. Quite meditative and exotic experience. By the way, the titles are based on some of the virtues of Japanese Samurai. The sounds overlap into the next piece, "Makoto", this one seems to be more experimental, but again with some nicely fitting flute and drumming and still quite simple in its structure. Echoed, deep and mysterious. "Yu" keeps its experimental feel with flute and rainy sounds. Also "Jin" is carried by raindrops, but with more rhythmed drumming in first half, some metallic and other more strange sounds appear too, later this piece moves back to its less active organic mood. "Meiyo" is centered around singing bowls and always presented environmental recordings, again sounding minimal and natural while towards the end variety of percussive sounds steps in. Closing "Konshi" is by far the most floating droning soundwall on the album, a fascinating sonic vista! "The Child Set Free" album is recommended for all those who prefer more static organic ambience, so don't hesitate to explore highly meditative soundscapes of Human Metronome. I will keep an eye on this Dutchman.

Richard Gürtler (Bratislava, Slovakia)