Circles

Concept albums are more often than not faltering grabs at artistic kudos from those whose initial creative spark has long since been eaten by ego, but this first full length from Plumbline for Dukebox follows in the well-received conceptual footsteps of a fine trilogy of remix albums from Lee Norris and The Black Dog's dalliance with consumerism, Unsavoury Products, with the précis behind this particular work to soundtrack a journey its creator took from LA to New York. This sonic rendition of his 3000-mile trip owes more to the landscape than events on the road itself, the metropolitan hustle bustle of the aforementioned cities acting as parentheses to a route which took them from the deserts of Arizona through the great plains of the Midwest, before the neon blips and upbeat lead line of the closing track signify the arrival at the Big Apple itself. Endearing as this may be, in electronic music substance will forever overrule such stylistics, and it is testament to Plumbline's artistry that the untitled ten circles come up trumps on both counts, unencumbered by traditional techno sound bank having instead forged his own clicks and whistles from scratch through synthesis, the material often content to just rock back and forth on its heels and describe all it surveys by way of analogue growls, warm pads and the occasional rhythmic ripple.