Bleep

"Freeform (Simon Pyke) distinguishes himself from his electronic peers by the ethnic sound materials he uses (perhaps exclusively, judging by the music here) to construct his tracks. On this twenty-eight minute EP, all six songs appear to have their roots in ethnic folk materials that originate out of African or Eastern (Middle and Far) locales. But then, while retaining the natural, identifiable qualities of those materials, he morphs them modernistically so that the resultant beats, rhythms, and arrangements straddle the worlds of older recorded sounds and new electronic rhythms. While it?s a clever concept and one that he pulls off convincingly, one is ultimately more impressed by the expansively orchestrated arrangements and overall sound character than by melody per se. Consequently, Pyke?s music has a tendency to drift past, the listener suitably impressed as the music plays, but then fade from memory, leaving behind a satisfying but vague impression. His defenders might argue that he?s merely honouring a particular ethnic style which emphasizes percussive rhythm over standard melody, and, admittedly, there is credence to that argument.

?Quadrumble,? for instance, is primarily a drum circle of sorts with its percussive array constituted by shakers, congas, bells, and drums. Similarly, tracks like ?Wildcat? and ?Dont Put Me In? (sic) incorporate whistling sounds, folk rhythms, and wooden flutes to evoke foreign musical styles. The best tracks, however, go beyond evocation to conjure a fresh fusion of older folk sounds with electronics.

A prime example is the jittery and infectious ?Nothing to Say? whose vocal whoops, hand percussion, tribal drums, and harmonica are transformed by Pyke into some mutant hoedown emanating out of some postmodern African outback. By adding echoing surges and electronic whorling patterns to the traditional source materials, he creates a compelling new style. This track, along with the nimble ?Skim and Skiffle? with its interweaving patterns of bells, percussion, and sax, shows Freeform?s music in the best light, as one capable of deftly merging ethnic and electronic materials into an original hybrid." [FROM STYLUS MAGAZINE]