Release Date: 22 September 2003
Song Count: 11
Duration: 46 minutes, 47 seconds
Rating: 6.7/10
Description:
Song Count: 11
Duration: 46 minutes, 47 seconds
Rating: 6.7/10
Description:
It is time to leap from one disbanded band to another - albeit for entirely differing reasons -, as today's album is the third and final one released by LFO, an electronic music duo from Leeds. Comprised of Gez Varley and Mark Bell, this act gained its status as a pioneer of the "bleep techno" subgenre over the course of its existence since 1988, coming to a stop with Varley's exit in 1996, restarting in 2003 and then formally ending in 2014 with Bell's sudden passing due to health complications. The latter also helped contribute to the production of many of famous singer Björk's works, as well as Depeche Mode's album "Exciter" - and in between these projects lies Sheath, the only LFO album solely in Bell's hands.
As a record from a rather niche corner of the electronic music scene, Sheath provides a highly distinct musical sound that juggles between some interesting sonical directions. While a clear dominant influence of mechanical-sounding IDM and techno is present throughout the eleven tracks, this is then mixed in with a colour of a focus on ambience, leading to a series of looping beats and robotic sounds that tingle in the listener's ears without drawing as much attention to themselves as adjacent music types would. How much the sound of the album leans in one or the other direction highly varies, with tracks such as "Freak" and the latter half of "Mum-man" sounding straight out of a beeping factory and others like "Moistly" and the closer "'Premacy" being both more relaxed and more melodic in nature.
Though no particular track here grabbed the major part of my attention due to their inherent idleness, Sheath is nevertheless a well-produced, qualitative piece of music that toys with the various ways IDM beats can take form. It carries within it both the values that make ambient music the sinking experience that it is and that shape up complex and niche forms of electronic music to be captivating and fun to listen to. In the end, though perhaps not to the liking of all, this is definitely an album that shouldn't be glossed over by those seeking out EDM that goes far beyond the mainstream limelight and provides something truly different.
Rest in peace, Mark Bell. Thank you for the music.