The lovely Oakland-based Constellation Tatsu label is back with their Summer of 2019 batch. I always have a hard time selecting which release to write about when a new CT batch arrives, and it’s no different with this one. So I dug in deep to see which cassette resonated the most with me on a visceral level, and this doozy from Asheville magicians Livingdog (Corey Parlamento) and Mike Johnson seemed to vibrate my inner monochord the deepest.
CRO$$ is the collaborative debut from these seasoned players; Parlamento has a few solo releases under his belt already and Johnson is well-known on the Asheville scene, both as a musician and as a producer. This collection of recordings is a dream-like dance through landscapes strewn with guitars, synths and field recordings. It’s not a hushed affair, but there is an unhurried air about the music: the pair let tones and melodies unfold and stray along paths both well-traveled and overgrown.
The deliberate pacing has a calming effect, as do the gorgeous acoustic guitar melodies which adorn tracks such as “For Martin”, “Contemplate the Life of a Fencepost”, and “Duet for Strings”. The remaining tracks are no less mellifluous, yet there’s an uncanniness present in the way the synths and other elements seem to distort the aural landscape of the tunes. The surreal nature of the music is somewhat disorienting but still incredibly pleasant, probably how having synaesthesia might cause an enjoyable sense of delirium.
Capture this mystifying sensation by gripping a copy of the cassette – there are still copies available over at the CT Bandcamp. If you’re feeling extra frisky, you might want to snatch the whole batch, and have an extended drift session.
