Angel and Strings of Consciousness — Self Titled

This collaboration between Angel (which features members of Mum and Pan Sonic) and Strings of Consciousness offers up two lengthy 20 minute tracks of drone craft & atmospheric builds/falls

Both tracks here feature a fairly big casts of players of up to ten or so with the collective playing a mixture of: guitar, guitar effects, Harmonium, Accordion, cello, Bass, double bass, signing bowls & electronics. And this dense mix of textures and sounds is the album’s success and often downfall. On the plus side there’s so much going on as the shifting vista of different elements swirl and drift building up an heady and atmospheric drone stew. On the negative side at times it becomes too crowded and unfocused with seemingly moments of no direction or atmospheric end point- leaving one drowning in a swamp of dense sound. The first track seems to fare worse for this over crowding and lack of focus with the second track coming out as the most effective and consistent of the two.

All in all an album that sits fairly evenly between been rewardingly expansive and cinematic and overcrowded and unfocused- It’s certainly the case sometimes too many cooks can spoil the dish.