Editorial Reviews

A thoroughly uncategorizable album, Non Meters, Vol. 1 is the first of three discs to be released from a single extended improv session featuring a fistful of semi-boldface names from the avant/prog/post-rock underground, including Tyondai Braxton of Battles, Zach Hill of Hella, John McEntire of Tortoise, Guillermo Herren of Prefuse 73, and others. The tracks are heavily manipulated, with vocals drifting in and out like Cocteau Twins samples over skittery, reconstructed beats and digital hums and whooshes that recall Oval or the kinder, gentler side of Autechre. There's nothing here that would qualify as a song in the traditional sense, but neither is this music totally alienating or as self-indulgent as it could easily have become. The album to which it seems closest in spirit is Acoustica, the avant-classical group Alarm Will Sound's exploration of pieces by Aphex Twin. It's full of unexpected but never jarring sounds, gentle twangs of guitar ("Son of Yucatan" is particularly beautiful), and a surprising cohesion -- it all seems to be part of one large, constantly mutating work rather than a collection of discrete moments. While this isn't something you could put on in the background, nor is it something you could pump your fist or dance to, it's quite enjoyable and sets up anticipation for the second and third volumes. ~ Phil Freeman, All Music Guide All Music Guide

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