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The Man from RavCon — The Time Traveler
(Bandcamp no#, 2024, CD / DL)

by Jon Davis, Published 2024-10-26

The Time Traveler Cover art

The last album from The Man from RavCon that I heard was 2018’s Another World, and I found it to be a mixed bag. I enjoyed the upbeat tunes, but found some of it too smooth and predictable. The man behind The Man from RavCon is Mike Brown, and The Time Traveler is his third since Another World. One of the other two is called The Intergalactic Bell Bottom Cop Show, which is a really fun title, but I’m here to write about The Time Traveler, which presents ten tracks of instrumental music inspired by science-fictional themes. We’ve got “Into the Vortex” and “Journey to the Edge of Time” along with “Past Present Future,” “Yesterday’s Dream,” and “Tomorrow’s Lament.” I wouldn’t really classify most of the music as space rock, as the tunes are relatively concise, entirely lacking in long grooves with spaced-out guitar or synthesizer solos. There are occasional hints of classic surf rock, especially in the guitar parts, which often function as both riffs and melodies. But you won’t hear the kind of manic intensity that characterized tracks by The Ventures and Dick Dale, with their garage leanings. Music from RavCon is more closely related to instrumental tracks you might have heard done by rock bands in the 70s, not quite prog, but with tasty arrangements for keyboards and guitar. There’s also a distinct lack of twang. But I don’t want to criticize the music for what it’s not. The Time Traveler is well written, well played, and quite entertaining. I couldn’t tell you how exactly it was made — the credits just say “written, performed and produced by Mike Brown” — so the drums may be programmed or played live, but they sound good, so I’m not complaining. “Tomorrow’s Lament” dabbles in some orchestral colors, bringing in a different mood. Brown never ventures into difficult or avant-garde territory, sticking to conventional harmonies and hummable melodies, so those averse to dissonance and angular rhythms have nothing to fear.

Filed under: New releases, 2024 releases

Related artist(s): Mike Brown (The Man from RavCon)

More info
http://manfromravcon.bandcamp.com/album/the-time-traveler

 

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