As part of Emeralds, Steve Hauschildt is involved with one of the most in vogue ambient / drone acts around (if any such acts can ever be ‘in vogue’ at all) but 'Sequitur' is something at once more accessible and yet more obtuse as well. Perhaps this is down to Hauschildt’s attempts to provide a more densely electronic release than anything he has done to date with his band, or maybe it is more down to a lack of focus.
For, whilst 'Sequitur' has numerous high points over its runtime, this is an album that seems all too willing to flit between various positions in the electronic spectrum that Hauschildt operates within. Opener 'Interconnected' is a major highlight, with its Boards of Canada esque colours giving it a pleasant IDM feel, but things ramp up a gear with the progressively funkier 'Accelerated Yearning'. 'Constant Reminders' adds some delightful vocoder work to the mix, and is also more beat based, leading to the early conclusion that Hauschildt is intent on taking the listener on a journey through the dancier side of his musical personality.
Then things start to get progressively more focused on the ambient approach that Hauschildt is best known for and, by the time we get to 'Kept', the album seems to have gone round the corner back to the hazy electro drone one would expect Hauschildt to be most likely to produce. Now, this in no way makes 'Sequitur' a bad album, but it does prove somewhat frustrating. The early tracks give the impression that a Hauschildt IDM record would be a great thing, whilst the more drone like moments to come are proof of an artist completely at home within a genre. This leaves the dilemma of which path Hauschildt arguably should have chosen, and the fact that there is no clear answer makes the question decidedly more annoying.
As a result, although 'Sequitur' is a collection of great tracks, as an album it feels incomplete. Hauschildt could well have combined the best of both the worlds he explores here, but one cannot help but wonder if a more satisfying conclusion would have resulted in the release of two albums rather than just the one.
'Sequitur' is out now via Kranky.
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For, whilst 'Sequitur' has numerous high points over its runtime, this is an album that seems all too willing to flit between various positions in the electronic spectrum that Hauschildt operates within. Opener 'Interconnected' is a major highlight, with its Boards of Canada esque colours giving it a pleasant IDM feel, but things ramp up a gear with the progressively funkier 'Accelerated Yearning'. 'Constant Reminders' adds some delightful vocoder work to the mix, and is also more beat based, leading to the early conclusion that Hauschildt is intent on taking the listener on a journey through the dancier side of his musical personality.
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