Kyle Bobby Dunn — Ways of Meaning

Kyle Bobby Dunn is a Brooklyn based Canadian born musician and composer.  Ways of Meaning is his soon to be latest release (as of May 2011).  All the six songs here have been recorded using guitar and organ.  What we find is an intensely personal and somewhat somber slice of minimalist drone.

To begin to describe Ways of Meaning isn’t easy.  Memories, ideas and reflections of an artist don’t always translate well through music and let’s face it playing it through drones and ambient isn’t the easiest of vehicles to express those ideas.  True as that may be, Dunn is able to translate his thoughts fairly well.

There is a dreamy, far away atmosphere that pervades all of Ways of Meaning.  From the ecclesiastical tone on “Statuit” to the gentle disharmonies of “Canyon Meadows” and the ascending soaring pitches of “New Pures”; there is a haunting delicateness to every song.  Together they feel angelic, intense, warm and poignant.

The end result is a unified collection of memories.  Some may deem it brilliant others pretentious, but the emotional bond through each song cannot be denied.  What else that cannot be denied is Dunns’ ability to suggest movement.  Even though the songs may seem quiet and still there is always a sense of motion; either a soft drift or an enormous weight. The emotions that are conveyed here may float dreamily but not without a hint of melancholy.