Exposé Online banner

Exposé Online

Not just outside the box, but denying the existence of boxes.
Covering music from the fringes since 1993.

Reviews

Bevel — Phoenician Terrane
(Contraphonic CON 063, 2007, CD)

by Jon Davis, Published 2008-10-01

Phoenician Terrane Cover art I’m generally a big fan of music born of lofty ambition, even if it doesn’t entirely succeed, but there’s something to be said for a modest recording that accomplishes its goals completely. Via Nuon’s Bevel project is not aspiring to great heights of complexity or power; its aim seems to be a little self-contained world of melancholy beauty. Acoustic guitar, violin, keyboards, minimal percussion, and atmospheric production, along with Nuon’s voice, are the key points. And while I can’t really fault the songwriting, and the violin arrangements and playing are truly lovely, his singing poses a difficulty. It’s drenched in a lot of reverb, perhaps to cover up its shortcomings, but it just doesn’t work. His intonation is atrocious, and his delivery so shaky it makes me uncomfortable. I could see really enjoying this music if he had someone else sing it. So while some of the instrumental parts are exceptional, I can’t bring myself to recommend it. If you’re a big fan of shoegazer folk-pop with glitchy digital production, maybe you can get past the singing, but I can’t.

Filed under: New releases, Issue 36, 2007 releases

Related artist(s): Bevel (Via Nuon)

More info
http://www.contraphonic.com

 

What's new

These are the most recent changes made to artists, releases, and articles.