Search - Jim O'Rourke :: Eureka

Post-Rock, Acoustic, Indie, Experimental, minimalism.....Thi

fetish_2000 | U.K. | 11/18/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Jim O'Rourke could arguably be considered someone that has had a hand in the many aspects of music, (solo artist, producer, re-mixer), and having dabbled in everything from: Experimental music avant-garde, Jazz, Rock & ambient. He's a musician that produces music as it takes him and doesn't seem to be restricted by genres. His solo work is a collection of albums with fairly short running times that mix up styles like Post-rock, Experimental, Electronic, Chamber Pop, Rock, Indie Rock, Acoustic & Alternative sounds in a generally Lo-Fi surrounding.



"Prelude to 110 or 220/ Women of the World" may initially seem like a repetitive song, with the light acoustic guitars and lyrics that repeat endlessly the course of the track, but its a track that you can really let yourself settle into, with it's lounge pop approach and lyrics that suggest the world would be in far better shape that it is now if Women took over the world, can't help but raise a smile. "Through the Night Softly", is a particular favourite for me. Imagine a soft and pastoral delicate acoustic arrangement playing unassumingly in the background for several minutes, not building up to anything in particular, just merely coasting along on it own trajectory, but suddenly after 2 1/2 minutes an almost 'John Coltrane' screeching Sax bursts out of nowhere and provides a sharp short euphoric rush, that simply needs to be heard. Or even a track like "Movie on the Way Down," which initially starts off with a the first couple of minutes of the track with nothing much more than spare, abstract guitar and atmospheric brass drones, yet feels deeply elaborate and ambitious in a decidedly low key kind of way.



But, If your a generally impatient person when it comes to your music, preferring that tracks that actually go somewhere, then you find that you'll have problems with the generally laid back pace of this track (in fact the whole album will frustrate), as "Eureka" is an largely acoustic sounding album, with a mellow, almost understated, feel that never outstays it welcome, with the guitars and gentle embellishments of horns and piano making it presence felt on the majority of tracks, its easily accessible, yet retain it's own individualist path, and you may find (like me) that it's a stunningly original mish-mash of styles with a decidedly free-from, free-spirited approach. With any harsh edges smoothed off, in favour of laid-back and hypnotically repetitious arrangements. It's probably not a album for everyone, as occasionally its a little bit too inward looking and cerebral for mass appeal, instead probably sitting (slightly uncomfortably) between the classical minimalism, Post-Rock, Experimental indie & understated guitar chords, of acts such as "Tortoise" & "The Sea and Cake", "Pajo" or "Papa M", but with a slightly more experimental bent. And if any of those artists that I mentioned interest you greatly, than you simply must investigate this album. As it one of the most nicest recent surprises I've heard musically, and has become something of a new musical romance for me to latch onto."

Eccentric and Cheesy!

Niklas P. Andersson | Santa Cruz, CA | 05/04/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Loved this record since i bought it several years ago, and it doesn't disappoint on repeated listenings (I'm listening to it now). I'm hearing Loungey horns, synthezisers over a guitar riff with ever so strange arrangements. Did I mention the weird vocals. My kind of music.
His best to date and unfortunately there hasn't been enough."

Eureka ! i have discovered jim o'rourke......

N. goodey | new york, USA | 12/06/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"i've had this album sittting on my shelf unplayed for a couple of years .The other month out of curiosity i gave it a spin and it is now a permanent fixutre in my cd player. On the surface it really shouldn't work, pretty and moody pieces like the title track and 'ghost ship in the storm' sit along side campy singalong tracks like 'something big' and plaintive folk like 'women of the world' . Yet somehow it all melds together and listener just goes with it. I have to confess whenever i see the word 'experimental' associated with anything i shudder inwardly taking it as euphenism for 'crap', but o'rourke shows you can be experimental and make different but emotionally resonant music"