Wisp - The Shimmering Hour

Our review
Customer reviews
Press release
Soundclips

4...according to our Ant on Fri 24 Apr, 2009.

The long awaited Wisp album on Rephlex is finally with us (CD only at the moment with double vinyl to follow). The CD has 14 tracks, 4 of which comprised the Katabatic 12". So I'm guessing the vinyl version may just be the other 10 tracks but who knows. He's a talented producer this chap with a good combination of fresh ideas as well as wearing obvious influences on his sleeve. He's got loads of tricks and wizardry but manages to retain soul and emotion in the tracks. 'Keeper Of The Hills' is a particularly sweet tune with lush melodies and a wicked switch in tempo mid way. I like the way he keeps the more up beat numbers fairly restrained with lots of strings and breakdowns. Some of the arrangements are really very good. Wisp has definitely found the right home for his sound at Rephlex as 'The Shimmering' has all the elements of classic Braindance.

To play these clips you need to either update your browser (Norman Records recommends Google Chrome) or update your Flash plugin.

Rephlex return with a magnificent album of epic, uplifting, symphonic Braindance from inspired new signing Wisp.

Hailing from Niagara Falls NY, Reid Dunn, otherwise known as Wisp, is becoming a fast-rising figure in the world of electronic music. Driven by an obsession with all things mythological, Wisp has been melding the new and old sounds of beat driven experimentation and bardic lore to offer up a distinct sound that stands out amidst the barrage of overly complex futurists that electronic music is so often mired in.

With a healthy appreciation for the original purveyors of the Braindance sound, and a love for digital
production, Wisp has released numerous free albums online, and currently has a fan run archive on the net of all his freely available music.

As well as releasing a large amount of music independently, Wisp has released on various record labels such as Terminal Dusk (US), Moodgadget (US), Hymen (DE), Notochord (BE), as well as having been signed to the now defunct Canadian label Sublight Records by Aaron Funk, a.k.a. Venetian Snares.
The evolution of this album, ’The Shimmering Hour’, has been somewhat unusual for all concerned. In early 2007,

the label released what turned out to be a particularly popular project by mystery artists, "The Tuss". There was a lot of speculation as to the true identity of this act. One of these ’fakes’, above all others, had notable originality and special musical merit however, and Rephlex wasted no time in tracking down its producer, a young man from the USA by the name of Reid Dunn.

Tracklist: 01 Teddy Oggie 02 Picatrix 03 Keeper Of The Hills 04 Flat Rock 05 Seaway Trail 06 Hexenringe 07 Cultus Klatawa 08 Katabatic 09 Summoner’s Hollow 10 World Rim Walker 11 The Shaper 12 Hidebehind 13 The Fire Above 14 Winter Of Flight

5...according to MC Jammy Hammy.

Whoever did the review for this LP at Norman headquarters needs to get some cotton buds to sort their chronic wax and grime blockage out, or see their G.P. cause im ECSTACTIC about this great LP.

This is the one of the best releases on Rephlex to date. It's an excellent journey from start to finish with all the high's, low's and exiting bits you could dream of. Im so pleased Rephlex signed "Wisp" cause this is what we want from the Rephlex. Hopefully they'll be more of this great electronica for many years to come.

Planet Mu sadly lost their way, Rephlex are showing the rest how it's done.

10 out of 10. Dont miss this one.

So, what do you think? Best reviewer each month gets £10 off their next order!