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Dollboy - Plans For A Modern City (different Drummer)
Apparently Ollie Cherer began writing the music which became Dollboy's debut album on a whim; a break from the kicking big-beats with which he has dallied for many years. Since then his demo and early promos have been swooped upon by the Different Drummer label who wanted to release it, by Pete Lawrence, who invited Dollboy to grace Eastnor Castle, and by a veritable Who's Who of ambient DJs, who have been falling over each other to bring these spectacular tunes to the tired and huddled masses. Ollie, meanwhile, has been wandering around with a confuzzled expression on his face, assuring everyone that he only ever meant to write some tunes to listen to in the bath.'Plans For A Modern City' is an original, unusual album, that nevertheless manages to reference the very pinnacles of modern no-tempo music. Although real instruments - guitars, pianos, vibes, even a harmonica - are layered over the album like emulsion on a wall, the feel of it remains very electronic and futuristic. It's a conjuring trick also performed with aplomb by Sigur Ros, and much of 'Plans ' has a similar glacial cool. 'China' has an unintelligible yet heart-wrenching vocal (in Cantonese, perhaps?) which is deeply reminiscent of the batty Icelanders' invented language Hopelandic.
'Juicy Fruit,' which opens the album sounds like Plaid at their most marvellously minimal - Big Chill Classic 'Ralome' springs to mind. 'Cymballine and Celeste' is a marvellous piece of piano-led neo-classical which invites comparison to Arvo Part or even Phillip Glass while 'Monks and Bells' sounds like, well, some monks with some bells. In a good way.
If this is a great album for ambient fans, it should also keep guitar purists happy. The extended solo that is 'How We Behave' pits a Peter Green-ish melody against pastoral sound effects. It is so stunning that you might be moved to forgive the birds twittering all through it. It's the only cliche on the album, so lets cut some slack. Thankfully the dawn chorus has flown by the time we get to 'Hatterjax'in which steel guitarist Jack Hayter does a magnificent BJ Cole impression on pedal steel, and there can be no higher praise - except to say that the track sounds like a lost classic from a Global Communications album.
Ambient albums traditionally reach their audiences with a languid lack of haste, building a fanbase, if they are lucky, eventually. There should be no excuse for not rushing out to buy Plans For A Modern City tomorrow. Dollboy have achieved their modest goals with apparently effortless grace. It really does sound bloody marvellous in the bath.
Enchanted Gordon
Dollboy
http://www.differentdrummer.co.uk
Written: 18th Oct, 04
Read: 1314 times
