Robert Rich - Bestiary flac mp3 download

Somewhere in the vast and ever-expanding world of true "ambient" music (i.e. not the slo-mo post 90s techno down-tempo chill-out grooves and jams) lies a myriad of spaces and areas which intertwine and break the usual expectations of labelling genres and not-so specific styles. In the very touchy area where experimental electronics meets drones and ambient with touches of what new-age would be if it had any sence of originality past the usual expectations, rare are the artists capable of navigating succesfully through these aural spaces which, in best case scenarios, end up as decently executed mixtures of stylings. Robert Rich's "Bestiary" seems to be an anomaly to any given formulae of the "genre" since is succeeds in ways that any lover of any of the aforementioned styles could appreciate this disc even if touches of the other musical textures seep through and intertwine with their own personal preferences. Rich seems to have mastered this highly difficult task by also managing an incredibly well produced album with flawless injections and explorations of a small (but growing) space between specific musical tags. "Bestiary" offers some insectoid-flavored textures, rhythmic motions and pulsations without stumbling into blatant beats, etheral waves and angelically-pitched synthetic drones, and some subtle semblances of melody, all through carefully constructed individual tracks which work as effortlessly by themselves or as the sum of their parts, creating a non-stop 53 minute long sonic venture tracked with eight intermixed pieces. An album which is equally intriguing, interesting, evolutive and soothing, it could almost act as an ambassadorial introduction to those who were never exposed to the various genres and styles the record manages to glide through. A solid recommendation, a worthy addition to any collection.

Bestiary is glurp funk. Glurp is a musical concept devised by Rich to describe sounds that remind him of that messy, squishy stuff at our literal core. When Rich is using his MOTM Modular Synth as he is here, it changes the whole structure of his sound. The squishing sounds are like the aural equivalent of a Cronenberg film. The organic is being filtered and punctuated through the machine in a very deliberate way. It's not as rigid as techno but it's also got more form and thud than some of his other work. The organic sweeps and samples are transformed by his synth work and the result is a multi-layered work that at its best moments funks, gurgles and percolates.

Experimental composer Robert Rich has studied both computer music and Psychology at Stanford University. With a deep rooted interest in using music as a psychoactive stimulus, Rich weaves a tapestry of sonic effervescence that captivates even the passive listener, and gives the active listener new wings to soar into the endless folds of space. Bestiary spits and gurgles its way through an enchanted forest of haunting tones and contrived dissonance. The opening track, “Mantis Intentions” is full of experimental meanderings that test the bounds of ambient music norms. “Nesting on Cliffsides”, clocking in at nearly thirteen minutes, is a fluid harmonious track that opens with a Far East pitter-pat of synthwork over some operatic female vocals, then soars through a wind tunnel and morphs into a sparse and spacey cavern of water drops and murky acoustics. “Sharpening her Talons” is reminiscent of Einsturzende Neubauten with its wall of noise, balls out ambience. The final track “Premonition” comes closest to having a traditional song structure. It features emotive, androgenous, Auto-Tune processed vocals that drive the Eastern tinged groove and help create an exquisitely melodic and beautiful song. Bestiary is soundtrack muzak for inward journeys through the soul.