MOSAIC (COLLABORATION WITH JOHN HAUGHM)

MOSAIC is a collaboration between the expansive ambience architect MATHIAS GRASSOW from Germany (who has released over 150 albums) and JOHN HAUGHM most famous as vocalist / percussionist / guitarist of the US metal act Agalloch.

This ambient soundscape finds GRASSOW on synthesizer, field recordings and samples and HAUGHM on vocals, voices, guitar, pedalboard, shaker, Waterphone, bowed banjo, bones, cymbal, chimes, bells, singing bowl and bodhr'n.

The album of nearly 45 minutes consists of three tracks all titled MOSAIC followed by a respective I, II and III. The final track extends past the 21 minute mark and pretty much swallows the entire second side of the vinyl edition (turquoise blue, wickedly cool!)

This type of music is difficult to rate because the effect is not based on technical playing skills at all but rather in creating an otherworldly effect that helps the mind drift away into another consciousness altogether. In that regard it achieves its goal quite well.

The positives of this album are that it's consistent and never breaks the hypnotic spell which dominates the entire running time. It's minimalism guarantees that no unnecessary elements interfere with the goal of achieving a hypnotic session of inner bliss with droning synthesizers and sundry extensions.

The negatives include the fact that this album doesn't stand out very much from the gazillion other similar acts out there achieving the same purposes. This is not sophisticated like Tangerine Dream or Klaus Schulze. While effective in its goal, it's not very unique and therefore despite a pleasant listening experience won't invite return visits. Still though, very nice.