If you've seen Electroluminescent live, you know what kind of fascination it can hold. Ryan Ferguson moves from instrument to instrument, looping layering guitars, drums, keys and noise, shaping
them from ambient drones to sparkling soundscapes. Live, it's amazing, but does it hold up on album? Certainly, especially if shiny, spacey things – akin to Elivium or even something like Tsurubami – are your thing. These are songs, not formless drones; there is structure, albeit often textural and only partially linear. "Ampere" sets the mellow tone, while the Virgin-Suicides-via-Sianspheric feel of "Rutherford's Rock" brings the tone closer to rock 'n' roll. Ferguson has a wide scope of influences, but he mines them in subtle ways; even the aforementioned comparisons only hint at what it sounds like. For a guy doing something so singular, it sure is diverse. (Vinyl only.)
Electroluminescent
Measures
(Black Mountain)
