FEBRUARY 2010 ONLINE EDITORIALS

Pictureplane - Dark Rift

album cover

By Erik Myers

There’s little to say about Pictureplane that hasn’t already been blogged.
But the online fanaticism surrounding Denver hipster Travis Egedy is justified. Dark Rift, his debut full-length, is a cream-worthy collection of electro tunes which sees Egedy meshing together computer noises lush and uncanny.
The 4/4 “oontz-oontz” bass beat of opener “Solid Gold” is a techno standard, providing dance appeal amidst the thin layering of keyboard plinks and Egedy’s far-off vocals. It’s a similar story on “Trance Doll,” in which Egedy meanders as crystal twinkles keep the beat.
But Pictureplane is usually at best when choppy. “Cyclical Cyclical (Atlantis)” is a flashy jog where everything – the synth beat and soulful backup singers included – sounds inconsistent yet not spotty. Perhaps the prime example of his mastery of glitch-craft would be “Transparent Now (Thin Veil),” in which the opening moments could be easily confused as a skipping CD before elapsing into feathery cohesiveness.
Some tracks have less deviance but just as much sonic appeal; “Dimensional Rip III” is closer to typical club fare, but the warped synths and Egedy’s soft-spoken approach keeps comparisons at bay.
Finally, there’s the enchanting “Goth Star,” essentially a parallel universe cover of Fleetwood Mac’s “Seven Wonders.” A dazzling haze is draped over the original song’s melancholic hook and diced bits of Stevie Nicks reverberate through it all. Dark Rift was among the best electronica albums of 2009.
myspace.com/pictureplane