Chronotope Project – Ovum

Chronotope Project "Ovum" CD

Several years have already passed since I reviewed Chronotope Project's "Event Horizon" released on Relaxed Machinery back in October 2014. In the meantime, Jeffrey Ericson Allen, the man behind Chronotope Project, became a very vital member of Spotted Peccary Music family. After "Dawn Treader" (August 2015) and "Passages" (May 2016) album, here comes the latest sonic installment by this hugely crafted artist based in Eugene, Oregon. "Ovum" is out since August 4th 2017 and it comes in absolutely gorgeous 4-panel eco wallet packaging designed by Daniel Pipitone and exhibiting stunning original photography by Joel Silva. As usual, Howard Givens is the wizard behind the mastering knobs.

The journey opens with 10-minute "Olduvai Dreams" and is ignited by tranquilly expanding and warmly embracing washes, but towards the second minute the scenario shifts into richly flavored organic alchemy, meticulously coalescing magnetizing downtempos with mesmerizingly laid-back tribal balm, swirling flute fluorescences, enveloping breezy blankets and exotically fragranced glimpses. A truly euphoric and harmoniously striking sonic splendor showcasing Jeffrey Ericson Allen's huge compositional talent and glowing multi-instrumental virtuosity. Undoubtedly a Hall of Fame performance, bravo, Jeffrey!!! I should add, the part of the title is taken, I suppose, from Olduvai, a gorge in Tanzania, where the earliest evidence of probably the first human species was tracked. The title track "Ovum", clocking to 8 minutes, returns to more evocative sceneries, where introspective humming quietudes and intangibly liquid traceries are exquisitely juxtaposed with serenely meandering weeping poignancy and peeking silent vistas. A gorgeously engrossing elixir! The next piece "Mariposa" keeps tightly on a deeply reflective path, when bridging ethereal choir-like meridians guarding above with titillating soaring vertexes, contemplative plucked strings and auxiliary shimmering undercurrents. The closing third is inconspicuously reinforced by a gently glimmering percussive trinkets. Sheer beauty in full bloom! Remote winds announce "Emanation" and persistently commingle with hauntingly enigmatic flute calls, while some glistening Berlin-School sequences clandestinely permeate across the longing horizons. "Primordial", at 4:52 the shortest track on "Ovum", delves into soothingly colored terrains, where symphony of nocturnal biotic subtleties performed by pond's dwellers precisely amalgamates with placidly nuanced and enchantingly surrounding sublime cushions. "Epiphany" transfers into lushly animated imageries fastidiously merging perpetually galloping effervescent pulses with cello- and flute-like infused sinuous narrations masterfully carved, I believe, through Haken Continuum Fingerboard, an amazing piece of gear, which Jeffrey Ericson Allen extensively uses on this album. Lachrymosely immersing jewel! 9 minutes long "Starry Messenger" immediately transports the listener into the splendiferous garden of fascinatingly translucent glitters, delightfully counterpointed by expressively yearning patterns evoking touching flute and cello insignias of its solitary genius. A grand finale indeed!!!

When I look back, in 2012 Chronotope Project was one of the biggest revelations and then, after releasing above mentioned "Event Horizon", its sole protagonist was heading into the Ambient Pantheon. Now, 5 years later, Jeffrey Ericson Allen is still marching forward and with phenomenal "Ovum" album he can easily share his creative earmarks with the giants of the genre. We all must be very grateful for such soundsculpting talent!!! Put your headphones on or activate your speakers, superb sound quality awaits here, 51-minute "Ovum" is one of the most ingenious highlights of 2017, an aural and visual magnum opus by Chronotope Project!!!

Richard Gürtler (Nov 05, 2017, Bratislava, Slovakia)