Sagacious beyond his age, 23-year old UK based elegiacally reflective composer, James Simmons, follows his lauded 2009 field-recording instrumental debut LP, ‘What We Left Behind’, with the equally indolent stimulating, ‘Follow The Dark As If It Were Light’.
Taking a more tranquil and yielding approach, Simmons (under the moniker of A Dancing Beggar) constructs a diaphanous audio narrative, using understated deftly played piano, quivering electric guitar, and hallowed shifting bass that both pours over and obscures any signs of standard song arrangements. There are also minimal displays of vocals, kept to being drifting gesticulate waves of choral, hymn-like cooing and sighs: used more as an evocative additional melody, then as a actual guide. An almost sacrosanct mood flows throughout these journey-esque passages, which feature themes and subjects such as, the tragic poetic loss of lives at sea (‘Empty Boats’), and inspired driving experiences through a memorable storm (‘Returning’).
Simmons ambient tomes recollect traces of Scott Walker – during his ‘Nite Flights’ period – and play a fleeting homage to Brian Eno – especially his ‘Another Green World’ phase. There are also redolent touches on the album of Sigur Ros’ senses-to-the-elements, moulding sonic-vistas signature soundscapes; though this, in part, is down to the mixing and mastering duties of Ludovic Morin, whose credits include the Iceland group, and earthy acoustic artists the Fleet Foxes and Beirut.
Fastidious in approach, the Dancing Beggars congruous musical impressions indicate a growing talent for soundtracking movies that don’t yet exist.
Due: Out Now
[Rating:4]
