|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
CD
|
|
SCR 220CD
|
XAM Duo -- the Yorkshire-based pairing of Matthew Benn and Christopher Duffin -- follow up their acclaimed self-titled 2016 debut (SCR 120CD/LP) with XAM Duo II. They have spent the past few years collaborating with Virginia Wing and releasing the fun single "Tisch Tennis", as well as playing live with everyone from Stereolab, Sonic Boom, and Michael Rother to Jessy Lanza, The Necks, and Anna Meredith. They are also both members of Holodrum, the band formed from the ashes of Hookworms whose debut album came out earlier this year. Despite being over five years in the making, XAM Duo II is a much more concise affair than their debut, clocking in at just under 30 minutes. The journey begins and ends with the beat-driven "Blue Comet" and "Cold Stones", taking in shorter ambient jams along the way, making use of saxophone, drawn-out tape chords, floating Rhodes piano, and spaced-out synths, alongside very precise and intentional, sequenced and punchy synth tones. With the digital approach it could feel cold and processed, but it's the opposite -- warm and natural. This is something that is reflected in the striking artwork by long-time collaborator Jonathan Wilkinson which comes from a series of prints inspired by his time hiking around the Calder Valley in West Yorkshire. One thing that has stayed the same is the influence of The Sopranos, with three of the six tracks on the album named after episodes of the classic series.
|
|
|
Artist |
Title |
Format |
Label |
Catalog # |
|
|
LP
|
|
SCR 220LP
|
LP version. XAM Duo -- the Yorkshire-based pairing of Matthew Benn and Christopher Duffin -- follow up their acclaimed self-titled 2016 debut (SCR 120CD/LP) with XAM Duo II. They have spent the past few years collaborating with Virginia Wing and releasing the fun single "Tisch Tennis", as well as playing live with everyone from Stereolab, Sonic Boom, and Michael Rother to Jessy Lanza, The Necks, and Anna Meredith. They are also both members of Holodrum, the band formed from the ashes of Hookworms whose debut album came out earlier this year. Despite being over five years in the making, XAM Duo II is a much more concise affair than their debut, clocking in at just under 30 minutes. The journey begins and ends with the beat-driven "Blue Comet" and "Cold Stones", taking in shorter ambient jams along the way, making use of saxophone, drawn-out tape chords, floating Rhodes piano, and spaced-out synths, alongside very precise and intentional, sequenced and punchy synth tones. With the digital approach it could feel cold and processed, but it's the opposite -- warm and natural. This is something that is reflected in the striking artwork by long-time collaborator Jonathan Wilkinson which comes from a series of prints inspired by his time hiking around the Calder Valley in West Yorkshire. One thing that has stayed the same is the influence of The Sopranos, with three of the six tracks on the album named after episodes of the classic series.
|
|
|
Artist |
Title |
Format |
Label |
Catalog # |
|
|
2LP
|
|
SCR 120LP
|
Double LP version. XAM Duo is the new outfit formed by Matthew Benn of Hookworms and Christopher Duffin of Deadwall. This self-titled release is six tracks of improvised ambient beauty - both meditative and peaceful, it is astral jazz with an experimental kosmische undercurrent; modular synths meet saxophones; Cluster meets Terry Riley; Laurie Spiegel meets Pharoah Sanders. XAM Duo is a warm, immersive record that rewards repeat listens. XAM was originally Matthew's solo project. He recorded a number of tracks at home between Hookworms albums in 2014 which were released in 2015 as the Tone Systems EP on Deep Distance. Christopher says he approaches each song as a "mini-soundtrack to an imaginary film" and reveals that, while he was practicing at home, he played along to clips of There Will Be Blood (2007), Mulholland Drive (2001) and Synecdoche, New York (2008) to get the requisite atmosphere. "I appreciate that improvised music isn't for everyone, but it's something I love doing," Matthew concludes. "And, more often than not, Chris and I create something beautiful together."
|
|
|
Artist |
Title |
Format |
Label |
Catalog # |
|
|
CD
|
|
SCR 120CD
|
XAM Duo is the new outfit formed by Matthew Benn of Hookworms and Christopher Duffin of Deadwall. This self-titled release is six tracks of improvised ambient beauty - both meditative and peaceful, it is astral jazz with an experimental kosmische undercurrent; modular synths meet saxophones; Cluster meets Terry Riley; Laurie Spiegel meets Pharoah Sanders. XAM Duo is a warm, immersive record that rewards repeat listens. XAM was originally Matthew's solo project. He recorded a number of tracks at home between Hookworms albums in 2014 which were released in 2015 as the Tone Systems EP on Deep Distance. Christopher says he approaches each song as a "mini-soundtrack to an imaginary film" and reveals that, while he was practicing at home, he played along to clips of There Will Be Blood (2007), Mulholland Drive (2001) and Synecdoche, New York (2008) to get the requisite atmosphere. "I appreciate that improvised music isn't for everyone, but it's something I love doing," Matthew concludes. "And, more often than not, Chris and I create something beautiful together."
|