Loren Connors - Angels That Fall (Album Review)

 

Loren Connors - Angels That Fall 

(2017)

My copy: single-sided pressing by Family Vineyard

Loren Connors is a master of crafting quiet atmospheres. The now 74 year old artist/musician certainly would agree with the idea of “less is more.” I initially became familiar with the work of Connors with Airs, an improv ambient guitar album with a modest, echoing atmosphere that hypnotized me upon first listen. As a massive fan of ambient recordings, I picked up Angels That Fall on a whim.

Angels is a 17 minute longform guitar and piano piece that was recorded live in a church. This album is not for everyone by any means; it requires a general enjoyment of slow, subtle ambiance. The majority of Angels consists of echoing electric guitar that is patiently plucked and strummed with the addition of a few other effects to create louder drones. The sound of movement and room noise can be heard in the background, which allows the listener to feel as though they are a fly on the wall as Connors slowly builds his ambient patchwork. 

The chosen notes are mysterious and evocative, and at times Connors makes use of dissonance to create a sense of tension. Unfortunately, the album does little to develop itself, and instead focuses on its core sound. The piano comes in a bit too late and barely sticks around although it is beautifully recorded. 

The album may have been a bit more engaging had the piano come in sooner and accompanied the guitar, but what we have is an enjoyable sound bath that will please fans of similar styles. Listen if you enjoy the works of Steve Roach, Taylor Dupree (who actually mastered this album), William Basinski, Lawrence English, etc.