When Explosion in the Sky’s Mark T Smith and Matthew Cooper of Eluvium first collaborated on their self-titled debut it was the start of a wonderful relationship, with the first album in the bag it didn’t take them long until they were back in the studio and within the year “Maze of Woods“ had been completed.
The result being bleak and beautiful, a musical score to a film that has yet to be conceived, opening with the spoken word sample of “I wanted to do something that I don’t know how to do“ it soon became the pairs mantra in creating what would then become an experimental masterpiece.
The first track may have some electro beats but if you’re expecting an uplifting pop tune then you’re looking in the wrong place, there’s not much in the way of actual songs on offer but with the likes of “Springworlds” Inventions create a minimal soundscape utilising found sounds and samples.
In amongst the lo-fi noises however are moments of musicianship, the odd guitar loop or the piano piece at the end of “Peregine” which is then re-produced later on through “Moanmusic” – the latter track being reminiscent of some of Moby’s more ambient works, making for the sort of album that you want to listen to on headphones whilst watching the world go by through the window of a slow moving train, or whilst taking a walk along the seafront on a crisp winters day.
Mark T Smith may have been used to making instrumental music during his time with Explosions in the Sky, but this project explores a more experimental way of working, introducing sounds and samples with only a vague awareness of how they may come together to create the end product.
It’s this approach that comes to life during “A Wind of all Directions” as you find yourself drifting off to the crackle of old vinyl whilst looped tape decks subtly introduce mystical chants, this is more than just a band but an artistic montage of homemade noise and the coming together of two likeminded individuals.
Where the album started off with electronic beats they come back during “Wolf Kids” in a slightly more up tempo, but just as minimalistic fashion, again bringing together the computer programming alongside more natural noises in perfect harmonisation.
Ending with “Feeling the Sun” you can’t help but strain your ears to try and establish where the ghost like voices are coming from, is it another sample, the pair behind the music talking underwater or some sort of backwards subliminal message… either way, Inventions have certainly created something a little bit special.
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