Greetings From Birmingham marks an interesting new direction for a sound that has changed remarkably since
Scorn began. Rooted in ambient dub,
Scorn's sound had continued to evolve by dispersing, becoming increasingly ethereal. This album marks a return to more defined sound. It has many more hard edges. Gone are the tonal winds of previous albums. In its place, prominent jazz-like beats provide structure for a minimalist melody, all powered by harsh, murky basslines. And that's it -- there is little else building the sound. It is
Mick Harris' skillful arrangement of these elements that makes
Greetings From Birmingham such a notable release. Careful listening shows that the repetition sports live, improvised tweaks, often used to fairly dramatic effect -- this release is all about the details. These strengths of the album may also make it inaccessible. There is enough there to keep
Scorn fans listening for a long time, and the album is detailed enough to require repeat listenings. Unforunately, a casual listener might easily pass this solid release by.