Double album split into two parts named Le Chat Est Parti and Wren is an astonishing piece of work released under the name of Joseph Lawrence Quimby Jr released by Manchester label Tombed Visions it sees Quimby performing under his own name, solo.
Going beyond ravechild’s normal Scottish boundaries to include a review by an English label it should be noted to the uninformed that this is the same artist who manically shouted, spluttered and spewed vile messages in Take A Worm For A Walk Week, the one take wonder of Remember Remember’s guitar section and under the Hivver moniker provides Glasgow scene separate experimental music along with other solo artists as P6/Security and Ela Orleans.
The tradition of reclaiming ones own name, or earning the given name, has to seen as the development in a performing artist’s career.
This is no different; with the exception that with LCEP/Wren Quimby more than earns the right to perform under any guise.
Clocking in at two hours, it is a piece of work that requires dedication and suitable listening equipment.
In following these steps the listener is greatly rewarded with a highly textured, compositional sophistication wash that beyond providing an emotive wash results in aural transcendence.
Use of environmental and found sounds it leans towards hauntology concepts rather than what is commonly associated with drone; this provides characters as opposed to intense sustained tones.
Similar to the work resulting from his ongoing collaboration project Knights of the Invisible with contemporary dancer Iona Kewney, the compositions are a combination loops made of effected/manipulated electric and acoustic guitars, found sounds, cello, organ and vocals; each precisely situated and manicured to fit best within surroundings.
Wren focuses more on mechanical found sounds, these eerie percussive qualities coupled with the bows of cello and what seems like horn drones in pieces such as ‘Ariane’.
Wren’s is the lengthier side of the album with two sides having two 20-minute tracks.
The distinct tactile aesthetic of Wren contrasts the smoother icier sheets of sound that make up Le Chat Est Parti.
Fear not, the changes are not frustratingly slow; this partly due to the high definition of the recordings, details that would be lost in muddier production gleam and shine when they fade in and out of the foreground.
Well worth the money.
Wren / Le Chat Est Parti by Joseph Lawrence Quimby Jr
Words: Paul Choi
