Richard Formby - Volume One

Our review
Customer reviews
Press release

4...according to our Brian on Thu 22 May, 2008.

Shoegaze, drone & post rock legend Richard Formby has sent us some of his new CD on Mind Expansion to sell and i'm humbled to tell you it's a pulsing, driving treat. He's another one with his finger on the pulse, he sure knows how to get that full, hypnotic production throughout his tunes on 'Volume One' Having worked with many bands over the years, his love of krautrock springs to the fore here, hypnotic basslines, spacerock effects, chunky drums.....I get a warm feeling from his music. It's imbued with a sense of minimalism & experimentation but is very easy on the ear. Subtle analogue repetition, swirling enveloping keys, pulsing bass lines, understated flecks of guitar all moulded into sweet, motorik soundscapes. You can tell he's a child of the Seventies, this wonderful chap but his music is just timeless. He also takes from the Terry Riley school of cyclic repetition but the undoubted Can & Neu influences are very apparent. It's far, far from simply a homage is this CD though. There's a distinct Third Eye Foundation feel in parts, some light jazzy touches & even segments that will appeal to lovers of early Air. There's hardly anyone making the old music well, if much at all these days. I insist you check this CD out if my words prickle your curiosity 'cause he's a real master is Mr Formby, he's got a soothing, human touch & breathes magic into old equipment, making his music sound like your best new friend. A really approachable album! CD only on Mind Expansion.

The first of three CDs to be released on Mind Expansion, Vol 1 features 8 beautifully produced masterpieces of pure sonic bliss. Formby’s debut solo album, is very much a sound engineer’s album. We see him as something of an Eno for the post-rock generation. Formby builds on warm, looped fragments, cut up drums, guitar chime & organ arrangement, with all the ascending tact of Reich. In his world it's sometime in the 70s' at the height of classical experimentation & kraut motorik

Be the first to review this record. Best reviewer each month gets £10 off their next order!