NOVEMBER

I figured this was the perfect month to review this album so...by the way I used to hate November. Not so much anymore as I prefer it to the weather of December through February up here in Canada but still it's the month where the reality of the end of warm weather is made with an exclamation point. The skies are unsettled and the winds get stronger and summer seems like a million years away. Robin has this caption in the liner notes : "Inspired by another year with five Novembers...". Of Robin's solo stuff this is the best that i've heard so far, and he does it all here. As per usual he notes that there are no synthesizers or drum machines. He does play "wrecked" piano, Crumar Stringman, electric & acoustic guitars, bass guitar, percussions, drum samples, processions & treatments.

"High NRG" sounds amazing with the chunky bass and prominant drums as the guitar comes and goes. Piano helps out as well.Killer tune ! "Lowest" sounds like someone playing ping pong (haha).The weakest link here. "Waiting For Something To Happen" features atmosphere as piano, drums and guitar come and go. I like it ! "A Big Sleep" also opens with atmosphere as sparse sounds come and go. A beat after 2 1/2 minutes. Nice. Other sounds join in too. This is great !

"XR-Cism" has atmosphere as piano joins in and comes and goes. Cool sound here as the atmosphere gets louder. "Rotten PNO / Procession NRG" opens with piano only then drums and more join in at 1 1/2 minutes. Nice. I like when the guitar joins in. "The Dark Side Of Life" is the almost 22 minute epic. Piano to start then a beat and more joins in. A loud atmospheric section takes over then the piano returns before 3 minutes. Such a cool repetitive soundscape here. It starts to wind down 15 1/2 minutes in but then it starts to build late. "Relief" is a short closing avant piece with piano.

A very solid 4 stars for "November".