Malcolm Felder made his debut for label Audio Dregs back in 2003. Pavillion was created on a borrowed digital 4-Track and some old synths. Taking the name Lineland, a one-dimensional realm described in Flatland, the Victorian sci-fi novel by Edwin A. Abbott, Felder explored a world of melody and childlike wonder within his electronic compositions.
Jump forward to 2008, and his new release is Logos For Love (actually recorded in 2006). Opening with the dreamy carousel of “Pat Garrett†– it’s morphing time signatures entering into a jaunty start to the album’ continuum. These are tunes that are in no hurry to get to their intended destination, nor are they wanting to announce their arrival in an overstated manner.
“Am-Track†picks up the pace with it’s soft crunches and skipping dulcimer-like tones, the shadow of Prefuse 73 is prevalent, as well as Detroit techno and Warp label influences. Elsewhere, there are hints of Nobody, Caribou, Nautilus and Black Dog, however, Lineland sometimes fails to reach the lofty heights those artists have in their own unique and identifiable manner. That’s not to say Lineland isn’ without individual merit.
The albums’ charms lie within it’s ability to amuse with an obtuse twist here, a one off sound placed there, as well as some beguiling rhythmic structures displayed on tracks such as “Alchemy†and “Emerald Boardâ€. I did enjoy this album, but I fear that it will become somewhat buried in the electronic abyss that surrounds the high volume and quality of this genre’ music output in this day and age.
Lyndon Pike
