This is another solo project from Maor Appelbaum (Screening, Sleepless, etc.), but unlike the stripped down sound sources of Screening, Vectorscope takes a full-blown experimental electronics route to create ethereal ambient landscapes. The work dates back between 1999 - 2001, and a spacey sort of sci-fi vibe is still apparent, but the deep resonance of the ambient tones and the use of rather tactful percussive elements makes thing a bit more interesting to listen to. I'm still not that taken by it since I'm not really into much of that sort of otherworldly, sci-fi ambience... but nonetheless this does inch out as being a bit stronger than Screening's work. "The Abyss" has a watery texture to it with lots of uncommonly detailed gurgling sounds in front of cascading hums and such; "Renewal of the Mind" brings in a generic and very tangible beat for a more musical approach, contrasted by the more abstract and noise-laden direction of "The Fading"; while "No Way to Deny the Dream" brings in another blatant beat, also somewhat generic and techno-ish, for a very direct style that's more aggressive in volume and rhythm than most all of the others. I do like the sound quality, I have to give it credit for that. Everything sounds very dense, with warm clarity and nice resonance of the smoother ambient tones. The mix is also well handled, so the attention paid to that aspect of the release does pay off. The layout is very minimal, done in black and white with only scarce imagery of mechanical devices and readings and a photo of Appelbaum himself, with a little text for credits and such. The text generally looks too plain, but the cover is nice and stark so that works. The main reason I'm just not into this stuff is that, as mentioned, this style of electronic music isn't my thing. It's not anything I would call sinister or truly moving in atmospherics to me, and I don't really like the generic beats used either. I think those elements actually have a lot of potential to make this work more engaging and effective, but the simplicity and typicality of the percussive patterns is a definite setback. So, even though it's largely consistent in aesthetic and does possess some nice moments, the end result is one that just doesn't meet my personal tastes.
[Maor Appelbaum]
Running time - 52:39, Tracks: 11
[Notable tracks: The Fading, Blind]
Maor Appelbaum - http://www.maorappelbaum.com
