Lifeline — Self Titled

Here’s a self-titled release that focuses on dense, dissonant, at times maniacally playful improv/ non-music.  The CD release takes in six tracks, which shy away from formal structure and shape to create a sort of blunt jam/ haphazard improv vibe.

The release appears on Sheffield’s Discus Music- with the CD being presented in a glossy black, red, white, and yellow colour-schemed mini gatefold, taking in abstract shapes & a man working a bicycle-like contraption with his hands.

The Lifeline project consists of Pat Thomas- keyboard & electronics, Domnic Lash- electric guitar, and Tony Orrell- electric drums & cymbals. This seems like the project's first release, though each of the members has been actively releasing work for some years.

We open with the darting ‘n’ smarting “Lifeline 1” which is around three minutes shifting, glitching, and baying tone play, which never settles. It starts off the album in a taut & erratic manner. By “Lifeline 2” we find a blend of manic/unharmonic keyboard runs, blunt guitar bay, and rapid/ stabbing patterning.

“Lifeline 4” feels like deconstructed/ angular jazz blues- with its trumpeting tone like wonderings, darting guitar twangs, and loose percussive scrapes. While “Lifeline 5” is the longest track here at nearing twelve minutes is a blend of manic synth ice tone stabs, randomly jingling percussion, angular organ runs, and abstract guitar warbles/ bays.

In finishing, this is a release for those who enjoyed their improv stripped of all harmony, often very manic, and billowingly with discordant playfulness. To buy directly