Search - Peter Buffett :: Waiting

First Effort

Marc Ruby? | Warren, MI USA | 03/10/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Peter Buffet is an established musician with some dozen albums and many soundtracks to his credit. The Waiting, which is his first (1987) album, displayed his skill in the developing genre of electronic music. In this album Buffet uses many techniques associated with 'space' music - particularly broad tonal layers and a dash of minimalistic repetition - to notable effect. But Buffet avoids the disharmonies that are usually associated with this style. Instead his layers are melodic, sometimes supporting each other, and at other times indulging in complex counterpoint.The album also demonstrates at a rhythmic level the Native American influences which later came to dominate Buffet's work. The result is a cohesive whole that always seems to be organized in a direction. Thus the voices he creates are used as instruments rather than as ends in themselves, and the individual tracks reveal steady development rather than dynamic fixation on a simple series of minimal changes. The effect is extremely listenable on both visceral and intellectual levels.I can't point to any track as a favorite. Quality is evenly distributed, and some themes seem to persist across the album that makes me believe that Buffet saw this album as a conceptual whole rather than a collection of 'pieces.' As a listener you will find yourself drawn into the music and then eased along as it displays its depths. Very different from contemporary Ray Lynch, but equally interesting."

Different but devine

S. Honsaker | Grove City, PA | 02/22/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I had heard this back in the 80's when California was getting into synchronized music..and they played the title piece. I was happy to get it on CD. Very relaxing and still sounds timeless."