David Karsten Daniels - Fear Of Flying

Release Date: 28/04/08
Label: FatCat

This album is desperately moving. Approach with caution if your heart is made of anything less than steel.

Fear of Flying is a collection of emotive songs written about David’s family members spiraling in to old age, and ultimately their mortality, his feelings on death, life and faith. Whilst reflecting on his own fear of everlasting darkness he ponders on everybody’s thoughts and feelings. How do you feel about death? What will you do? Whilst being reassuring he also expresses a lack of sympathy towards other peoples fears. Possibly, this is cathartic.

Even the title “Fear of Flying” suggests that he has fears but it’s not actually that he has a fear of flying but a fear of the passage between being a land creature on earth to then fly into the sky, into heaven, into the unknown.

The music, at times, is bare - just a nylon strung guitar and his soothing voice. At others he is accompanied by distant organs, flutes and in the heightened moments there are grinding guitars, distorted drums, oboes and saxophones. All well arranged, so much so, it’s passable as pop, with an element of noise which never spirals out of control.

Daniel does make light humour out of his religion and death in “Oh, Heaven Isn't Real” by exclaiming that “heaven is lie / it’s just a little thing that's there to make you feel better”, which offers you a haven from the initial bruising. Also on “Everytime A Baby is Born” he asked the question “Do you cry / Everytime a baby is born?” then why cry when person dies. Suggesting that it’s one and the same thing and with that in mind its easier to cope. And in “Falling Down” he jokes whilst plummeting in mid-flight of a car crash how perfect an end it would be - being altogether “with my boys”.

The subject matters are strong and deep. But the impression I get is that he is saying that as much as we fear death we should embrace it. Smile in the face of adversity. Therefore, it is not all doom and gloom.?

The album concludes sweetly with the Lords Prayer being song over a chorus of crickets at moonlight. Gently caressing you, like a Mother's warm hug before lights out.

89/100

HMV / 7 Digital

Ghostly Swim

Free Ghostly International Album here, courtesy of Adult Swim: http://www.adultswim.com/willi

Benga - Diary Of An Afro Warrior

In many ways “Diary Of An Afro Warrior” is simplistic, but it’s to the point, which is its real quality. The beats are crisp and the synth’s bleep out like Morse Code. The clean, heavy sub-basslines seem to be the main focal point and are the driving force behind the overall sound.

Unlike Burial's dark narrative, which I love, Benga brings a vibrant, crunked up, instrumental sound that is more suited to clubs than darkened bedrooms. He wants to get you moving and none more so in the track “Night”, which could be the best single of 2008. Still early days though.

You’ll uncover many different styles and influences here, that work well together. African beats, tribal chants, techno keys and dub basslines on “Light Bulb”. Classic IDM akin to Luke Vibert on “Someone 20”. Techno mixed with Dub, there is a lot going on, blurring genres and it works. It’s yet another unique angle on Dubstep.

Considering that this is his first full album its amazingly well accomplished. There is not one weak track on this album, which is an accolade in itself, 14 tracks of solid gold is some achievement.

The first real stand-out dubstep album of 2008.

86/100

emusic / boomkat