Lots of rustling sounds are created by Adam Rudolph, Ralph M. Jones and Hamid Drake on this recent album. I had to look up in the dictionary what “membranophones”, “aerophones”, “chordophones” and “idiophones” actually were, as that is the list of instruments that these three are playing along with voice, and various styles of singing. Vibration sounds from strings, singing, rubbing or striking into a stretched membrane, or causing percussion from shake, rattling or rolling are collected here on these eleven songs, with the sounds taking the listener on an intriguing journey.
Lots of exotic and tribal percussion is evoked, sometimes with flute-like support on pieces like “Okomibo” with cricket chirps teaming with something akin to a bass clarinet on “Alima”. Gurgling tar pits and electronica a la Brian Eno take place on “Dimahala” and “Vajna” with synthetic pulses dominating “Apekweh” while experiments on mouthpieces, orbital cavity excursions are heard throughout, sounding like a trip to Tangerine Dream’s dentist office. Produced by National Geographic?