Sonic Curiosity – Review 07/05

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MOHAN: As Is Where Is

 

This release from 2005 offers 61 minutes of techno music.

Mohan is Seattle-based Dave Nugent, an award-winning producer and film scorer. Joining him on this release are: Christopher Woitach and Nick Gehling on guitar, Paul Chandler on drum programming and bass, Blake Angelos on keyboards and synths, Lindsey Bowen on piano, Julian MacDonough on snare, and Havilah and Tanya Asmundson on vocals.

Sprightly electronic surges are tempered with lively beats and dense e-perc. Looping patterns conspire with engaging keyboards to generate a lavishly frolicsome experience. Buzzing sounds blend with crystalline sweeps and twanged noises to achieve a liquid environment of crisply uptempo tuneage. Foundational harmonics support a plethora of tireless riffs designed to activate your rhythm sense and coax you into making any place a suitable dancefloor. Slippery melodies spill out with abandon.

The drumming consists of mechanical beats and with a touch of more organic tempos. While most of these rhythms are languid, they nicely compliment the luxuriously frenetic sentiments displayed by the sultry music.

The guitars are cleverly hidden for the most part, functioning as subliminal embellishment for the club-hopping sound.

Female vocals provide lilting lyrical content. They discuss living life to the fullest.

Although this music is disguised as hip hop, one gets the feeling that the tuneage is actually targeted for a more accessible market.