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artist.....: Safety Scissors
album......: In A Manner Of Sleeping
year.......: 2013
label......: BPitch Control
BPC266
source.....: CDDA
moodswing..: Electronic
releasesize: 84.74 MB
tracks.....: 12
length.....: 48:49
encoder....: VBR LAME 3.98.4 -v0
quality....: avg. 237kbps
scenealized: 04.08.2015
In a Manner of Sleeping, Matthew
Patterson Curry's first album under the
Safety Scissors moniker since 2005's
Tainted Lunch, sounds like it was
conceived in exactly such a manner.
That does not mean the album is lazy or
lethargic; it means the album is
ambient, reflective, dreamlike. Some
pop/rock fans may cringe at the mention
of the "glitch" genre, a form of music
typically characterized by repetitious
malfunctioning electronic equipment,
but those skeptics will change their
minds after listening to In a Manner of
Sleeping. The album soothes its way
into our ears with the ambient opener
"Moving Light," in which a radiant,
windy intro is complimented by softly
plucked bass notes simulating the start
of a restful night.
The peace does not last long, however.
"Moving Light" soars into the '80s
pop-inspired duet, The Floor.The song
opens with electronics that move into
an almost soft jazz electro-bass line.
With lyrics like "You said you'd wake
me up / we must fight / against the
floor" and "Oh elevator / which way to
take her / with all her buttons aglow,"
it is clear that Curry has passed the
threshold of sleep and entered
dreamland. The next song, "You Will
Find Me" with wordplay like 'An owl is
wise / but who is wiser' and
experimental, almost tribal electronic
sounds û is proof that the dream is
pure electro-pop bliss.
Until the nightmare hits, that is.
Well, not quite a nightmare, more like
a fever dream. "Somnambulance" comes in
like the soundtrack to a Super Mario
Brothers level on LSD, set to a hip-hop
beat. An interesting change of pace,
and clearly the REM-sleep phase of
Curry's excursion into nocturnal notes.
In a Manner of Sleeping contains four
instrumental tracks, including the
halfway marker "Lemon-Scented Moist
Pillowette" and the closer "Second
Story." and while experimental and
interesting, the album's true power
lies elsewhere.
The real wonder of this album (Safety
Scissors's first for BPitch Control
Records)is how Curry manages to keep
his electro-glitch-pop hybrid rooted in
traditional song structure. Throughout
the album, especially in "The Floor"
and "Progress and Perseverance," we are
treated to a downright jazzy
interaction between the electronic bass
and drum rhythm section a welcome
compliment to the sometimes overbearing
glitch-style production. The songs with
Curry's calming vocals and stunning
lyrics are the ones that shine.
Although the more pop-oriented songs
stand out, tracks like "18 Hours" and
"Lights Out" combine traditional song
structure and great vocals with highly
experimental music. "Lights Out" also
signals the end stages of sleep. Curry
can be seen coming to terms with why he
has been having such a turbulent night
all along in the line, "Turn off the
lights / I can see in the dark / I know
what you're thinking / but I'm not that
bright."
In a Manner of Sleeping gives a pop
treatment to electronic music...or an
electronic treatment to pop music.
Whichever way you want to think about
it, it is a thought-provoking album
both musically and lyrically.
Before the night comes to an end with
the instrumental "Second Story," we are
treated to one last personal admission
from our sleep-wary friend, "My best
ideas are when I'm sleeping / they
couldn't wake me." I think he is right.
psst, more info at bpitchcontrol.com
01 Moving Light 01:52
02 The Floor 04:25
03 You Will Find Me 07:05
04 Somnambulance 06:08
05 Gemini 04:24
06 Lemon Scented Moist Pillowette 05:19
07 Progress And Perseverance 05:31
08 18 Hours 01:41
09 Lights Out 03:58
10 Stolen Song 01:06
11 My Best Ideas 05:40
12 Second Story 01:40