Recorded with only guitars, Ex-Air formation guitarist Matt Bartram’s new album, The Dreaming Invisible is certainly less talkative then his previous album Left To Memory. With the lack of a beat, a voice and often a melody, many listeners can be turned off immediately, but here I would like to ask that the listeners give this dreamy ebb and flow of guitar sounds a chance.
Initially, I want more. Where is the heavenly vocalist? And the cavernous kick drum? I can appreciate this feel and these chords, but there’s nothing to cling on to; nothing but high frequencies persistently scratching at my ear. However, as the album progresses, a forgetful state is induced. Forget the melody, forget the drums just let the sound do what it needs to. This sound moves, swells up inside you, driving distortion through your head that you have forgotten you’re listening to. Faint melodies drift in and out like sleepy thoughts. The best thing though, is that while you have this noise corrupting you from all directions, you still have space. There is space to think, space to dream and space to move.
Though this album may be rather mood-specific, it has the capability to leave you relaxed and optimistic. I would also say that it should be indulged in one, giving the sound time to do its job. So no matter what your tastes are, The Dreaming Invisible is worth experimenting with, even if it is to wake up or fall asleep to.