Search - ensemble :: Sketch Proposals

An accesible approach to abstract electronica

I Smith | NYC | 06/28/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"The world of electronica has multiplied and subdivided within the past decade into a number of different sub-genres, ranging from avant-noise to experimental ambient to techno. What usually sets excellent electronica apart from the rest is the ability to create music that doesn't fall into one of these sub-genres. Ensemble's debut CD "Sketch Proposals" does just that, and in a very listenable way.On one hand, the music of Ensemble reflects the work of Pan Sonic and Ryoji Ikeda, making sounds and beats out of static, noise, and altered found sounds. But where the instrumental Pan Sonic and Ikeda are abstract, focusing very little on melody and song structure, Ensemble has female vocalist Chanelle Kimber, who sings softly and sweetly with a vocal style similar to such semi-electronic outfits as Broadcast and Stereolab. By combining the beautiful sounds of Kimber's voice with the jumpy electronic world of noise and sound, Ensemble create songs that challenges listeners to think about the music in a new way. The 12 nameless tracks on "Sketch Proposals" explore a variety of types of songs and sounds, and though each is different, there is a constant mood of calm erraticism--a mood unlike any other albums. If Ensemble becomes popular (and they deserve to), hopefully it will open the ears of listeners to realize the beauty of sounds and noise as music, something that less accesible, more experimental electronica has had a hard time with."