The sessions for
Clark's
Iradelphic album were so prolific that they sparked not only that album but also a series of excerpts available online and this EP, which is half new material and half reworked
Iradelphic tracks, and is just as intriguing as the other material from this particular era in the producer's career. The title track is the main attraction here: it begins with an elaborately spiraling flute melody that is seamlessly mirrored by a fuzzy synth and joined by busy beats that add intrigue without breaking the track's flow. A close second would be "Secret Slow Show," a gorgeous, vocals-dominated track that recalls the best moments of
Clark's Warp labelmates
Broadcast and
Leila. The rest of the EP walks a similar line between graceful and (intentionally) disjointed, most impressively on "Henderson Swooping," which reimagines
Iradelphic's "Henderson Switch," transforming its acoustic guitar, burbling vocals, and a massive rhythm into something that seems far more expansive than its just over two-minute length, and on "Com Re-Touch/Pocket for Jack," which builds on the
Iradelphic track and takes it in directions that range from subtle to baroque.
Fantasm Planes' miniatures are as small but fascinating as a pocket kaleidoscope, revealing something new at every turn. While it works well as a companion to
Iradelphic, it's just as compelling in its own right.