David Tagg - Pentecost

The first of two releases this week on David Tagg and Brian Grainger's Install label comes from Mr. Tagg himself and it's totally blissed out. He's created a very immersive and evocative sound, amongst his recording techniques are the use of reel to reel tapes of his grandfather playing organ as a sound source. I find this kind of recycling of sound from family history by the next generation to be particularly inspiring and incredibly touching. As you may expect, this kind of degraded and later treated tape stuff brings the work of William Basinski to mind and acts as a sort of trigger to induce hidden lost memories and nostalgia, again much in the spirit of The Caretaker album (which was originally released on this label). However David really brings his own set of skills, personality and warmth and spirit into the mix. As the album progresses I'm more and more less inclined to be typing words, rather I'd much prefer to sink into the carpet and revisit a past life. This really does tick every box in terms of great sound and something soul stirring. Outstandingly beautiful ambient music and certainly for me this is my favourite Tagg production to date. Super highly recommended. As I was drifting away I was really getting goosebumps which is always the sign of something very special.