The steady forward progression of
Tape continues with
Revelationes, their fifth for the Häpna label, showing the group well into its embrace of delicate, sweetly exploratory compositions and arrangements. It's a logical progression from their previous Häpna effort,
Luminarium, where the combination of acoustic and electric elements as well as a calm, contemplative feeling held sway. From the start here, with "Dust and Light" and its steady drum shuffle, cascading vibes, and entrancing guitar parts, both as texture and as lead melody setting the tone, the sense of late-night jam sessions as beholden to jazz's calmer extrapolations as to technical precision continues. There can be a slightly heavier feeling throughout -- "Byhalia," with its prominent piano and relentless if still understated rhythm, feels like it should be soundtracking a spy movie where everything's about to go terribly wrong. But "In Valleys," which immediately follows it, uses its lead piano to avoid a persistent crush, even while some buzzing feedback stirs at points in the mix. Sometimes it's as simple and as lovely as the guitar part that opens and drives "Hotels," a delicate, melancholy progression complemented by backing that touches everything from harsher guitar notes to sweet shimmers of sound. In contrast, while the ending song "Gone Gone" doesn't per se pile it on, hearing everything conclude with a quietly dramatic, full arrangement and brief understated coda seems just about right. ~ Ned Raggett