Instruments of Science and Technology - Music from the Films of R/Swift (CD)

All Music Guide

The cover of Music from the Films of R/Swift announces the "Debut fulllength by Richard Swift's krautinspired instrumental side project," a claim that the orchestral, lofi indie rocker backs up with his usual subdued verve. Performing under the moniker Instruments of Science and Technology, Swift kicks things off with the Enoinspired "Ashes," then liberates his inner electro freak with the floorpounding "Inst," a style he revisits in a moodier disguise on the disquieting "Clay Young Battles the Man." Fans of the Californiabased singer/songwriter's Tin Pan Alleyinspired pop confections will need to expand their tastes a bit, as Swift delves into the more dissonant and atmospheric soundscapes of Can, Neu, and Faust with admirable aplomb (the only vocals are of the occasional spoken word type), forgoing the latter's tendencies for the epic by keeping things under five minutes. For the most part, Music from the Films of R/Swift conjures up the spooky West Coast narratives of Ray Bradbury's... A Graveyard for Lunaticsera Venice Beach, layering moody synths over blips, crackles, and mumbles from an arsenal of found sounds and staccato dialogue, and when it gels, like on the languid "Ghost of Hip/Hop [New Apostle MX]," it's the perfect soundtrack to a walk through the "just seedy enough, but without the danger of getting your throat slit" underbelly of the city of your choice. - James Christopher Monger, All Music Guide Read more Less