Noteherder & McCloud
From Ledge To
Ledge
UK Spirit Of
Gravity 7” vinyl (2017)
Great lathe-cut seven here from Brighton’s
saxophone/electronics duo of Chris Parfitt and Geoff Reader respectively. Both cuts are excerpted from live recordings
from the fag-end of 2015 in Brighton and Worthing. The A side, “From Ledge To Ledge” is the
nearest I’ve heard them get to dub, but even now, you’ll have to listen hard to
get that. The prepared bass line that
starts the piece off is what makes me make that reference; other listeners
might assume I’ve gone mad. The saxophone
comes in from the end of a very long station platform bringing with it
recordings of voices and bit-crushed kiddytronica. This rich stew is then availed of some
dub-style delay effects while cranking up the spookiness factor.
The flip; “Jammed In The Middle Shingle, It Comes Right
In The End” is more minimal and less of a foot-tapper than the A side, but: if
you are reading this blog, since when
have you been concerned by that? The saxophone
is more prominent and in control from the start; the electronics initially chug
along in the background. Voices are
heard; possibly audience members, lurking.
Chris Parfitt is sending a pulse signal out into deep space. And then we’re on Broadway in the Birdland club back in 1959,
briefly…
Both cuts stop abruptly in order to fit the meagre
timeframe of 7” vinyl, but I like that.
Better than faffing about trying to find “the best” four minutes to
edit; just cut it there – great! The
mastering job is handled, appropriately, by Dan Powell, he of improvising
outfits The Static Memories, Nil and Brambling, who infuses more clarity out of
a live recording destined for lathe-cut vinyl than is decent. The Cover image is a roadbridge over the A27
at Shoreham, unless I’m much mistaken. Which
is a nice continuation of Noteherder & McCloud’s fascination with Sussex
architecture; previous releases have been decorated with images of Brighton’s
New England House and Bexhill’s De La Warr Pavilion. Back cover and label images of the band by
Far Rainbow’s Bobby Barry.