Dedekind Cut — The Expanding Domain
Short and sweet, The Expanding Domain is 23 minutes of electronic joy. Opening with the sparse "Cold Bloom," the name implies the feeling on display here. Cold, but opening up the album to what will follow. Contemplative and almost brooding, "Lil Puffy Coat" moves slowly, but deliberately and the fairly crispy electronics provide a nice bed for the sharp, clean piano keys to play on top. Unexpectedly, this soft number heads into the pounding electronica of "Fear In Reverse 2." A quickly moving beat bounces back and forth reminding the listener that it's not all ambiance and easy living in the world of electronic music. Returning to the more freeform realm, the crispy noises on "The Expanding Domain" feel like a lower key Dissecting Table, and allow the listener to return to taking his or her time with the music on display. Beats come to the fore, but are kept at bay by the noises and overall loose tone that make up the rest of the track. Pianos return for the light, luscious closer, "Das Expanded Untitled Riff." The near vocal drone gives a vibe of a frozen singer, caught mid-performance, as the pianos continue to move around her. Sadly, all of this performance is lost in the closing moments as everything is stripped away with time.
Dedekind Cut's latest EP, The Expanding Domain, is fun, quick, and fairly lush. While simple often battles back with complex, the listener is treated to many interesting sounds and arrangements, and the softer, contemplative moments are a real treat. And, with an abbreviated run time, there's really no excuse not to spend a few minutes checking it out. You'll be glad you did.