Tired of the Time
“It’s not good because he is a classically trained artist.” I correct a fellow music appreciator. “He is a classically trained artist. And good is a subjectively imposed label.” This all too common misconception, like an undiscerning jump in logic, has long since been a green light for composers of high concept music to put forth little innovation while retaining a “genius” status. Paris born Arthur Pochon has put out several techno and house EPs under the name Art Bleek, each with a uniquely minimal jazz flavoring. And while there are many who regard Pochon as a genius, yes, he is also a classically trained artist.
A distant static lurks in the background before pulsing electronics cut through, ambushing the listener, making order out of the chaos and danceable beats out of seemingly random noises. The static ebbs and flows alongside funky toms and stabs from the synthesizer. For the careful listener, the payout comes every four counts when new sounds are introduced to the already hard at work rhythm.
The title track incorporates minimal vocals in the chorus which reverberate, fade and repeat, making for a very cool effect. The quasi-psychedelic “Confused” purposely takes on the imagery of a deep-space voyage by looping cheesy sci-fi effects and cryptic chanting. Stand-out track, “Sheer Addiction,” flirts with classic jazz time signatures and actually includes an electronic jazz piano.
When it comes to house music the tendency is for people to either love it, worship it, and dance to it as part of their daily ritual, or abhor the mere sentiment of listening to subtly different electronic loops for hours on end. With that in mind, The Time is a masterfully produced deep house album overflowing with grooves to lift your spirit and shake your booty to. For true minimal and deep house fans, this album is a must. For the house haters out there, it will still sound like a broken record player.
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