Search - Slow Rip :: For the Time Being

A Slow Rip are a three-piece from the northern beaches of Wollongong who use group improvisations to create ambient dronescape pieces that are warm, glowing and transformative; some floating, shimmery and reflective and some darker, shadowy and fleeting. Phil Turnbull, Ian Miles and Rob Laurie are analog-based - they use analog and virtual analog synths, 'prepared' guitar, wind instruments and vocal tones and noises, immersed in delay, and recorded to tape. This provides a warm, alive and cohesive basis that Rob later collages into compositions on computer, aided by further editing and effects. A Slow Rip created seven CD-R albums of work between 2003 and 2007. Endgame has distilled the best of this work to form a double-album set titled For The Time Being. CD1 is more synth-drone and the lighter of the two (although not without some contrasting pieces); CD2 is more ambient and instrumental, perhaps the more intricate and moody. 'Ambient Electronic' is the classification their music will probably be found under within most services. Although their texturally melodic soundscape aesthetic is shared by many experimental electronic artists who use laptops for generators and digital processing, A Slow Rip don't make loops, use convoluted digital processing methods or create duration pieces. Their group improvisational approach to tape makes for a sound with a life of its own. Organs hum bell-like, drones resonate and echo, electronic noise swirls, accentuated by Rob's wind instruments, vocal sounds, percussion and guitar, sometimes sparkling and melodic, sometimes more experimental and spiky. Yet Rob's careful production renders the resulting compositions beyond the category of instrumental improvisation. The effect is that of a warm whole, something quite subtle and unique; definitely musical, yet ever-shifting, revealing constantly transforming inner worlds. The group's krautrock, prog-rock and drone influences are quite audible to listeners familiar with those genres; however none of these terms really do justice to their music. Although an obvious comparison, Eno is probably the artist most similar to their more processed, meditative works. Other artists in the same (large) field could include Biosphere, Growing, Aidan Baker, Belong, Tim Hecker, and even a few of Oren Ambarchi's pieces; yet none of these really sound that much like A Slow Rip. Part of the beauty of the group's music is its understatement. All three are accomplished musicians of various kinds - Ian is classically trained in piano and guitar, drawing from jazz, experimental and rock influences; Rob is a specialist percussionist who is equally comfortable on guitar, bass and accordion and constantly playing in many Sydney and Illawarra outfits; and Phil was integral to Sydney's post-punk scene in the early 80's, part of such seminal bands as Voight 465, Wild West, and No Night Sweats. His influences run the gamut of rock, pop, and experimental. However, there are no obvious instrumental displays or individualist personalities emerging here. The three put their heads down to create an independent musical being, drawing from a vast wealth of musical appreciation and experience within the 'no pressure' vibe of Ian's lounge room recording area. You can hear them listening to the new creation being formed, as much as you can hear them playing. We feel sure you will enjoy this new release from Endgame.