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Binkelman's Corner by Bill Binkelman |
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Bill Binkelman is a long-time icon in the industry. |
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| Transitions |
| By Patrick O'Hearn |
| Label: Patrick O'Hearn Music |
| Released 10/4/2011 |
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| Transitions tracks |
1. Reaching Land
2. Courage
3. Playground
4. Restless
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5. Patterns
6. Well-mannered
7. Flight
8. Sea
9. Frontiers Revisited
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Transitions |
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I recall reading somewhere that Patrick O'Hearn intended Transitions to mark a return, of sorts, to some of his earlier recordings, such as Trust and Metaphor. It didn't take me long (about 2-3 minutes into the first track, Reaching Land) before that became apparent. Transitions does signal a revisiting of O'Hearn's earlier music along with forays into the more straightforward ambient style which he has favored lately. The resulting CD is this under-appreciated artist's most fully realized recording as it plays to all his strengths.
Patrick O'Hearn has been recording (as a solo instrumental artist) since 1985's Ancient Dreams (on the now defunct Private Music label). His music has evolved over that lengthy time span, but one can always hear his "voice" from those early days to now even when the actual musical styles are dissimilar. That is quite a feat. O'Hearn's recordings have always been notable for his ability to unite the best traits of structured music (one might be inclined to even go so far as to call his earlier releases a kind of "light" new age electronica) with an ambient-like aesthetic. Now, no one would ever confuse O'Hearn for a "pop" instrumentalist. However, much of his music does have the same level of accessibility as many a jazz artist. While in recent years he has journeyed into more overtly ambient territory, exploring rhythm-less expansive soundscapes, he has still retained his unique characteristics. Transitions marks a high point in his career as his "past," "present" and "future" personas converge on the CD's nine tracks.
Transitions is like an O'Hearn primer as it showcases his many musical gifts, from the opening percolating rhythm and repeating minimal melodies of Reaching Land, to the sparse ambient reverbed piano and paradoxically soothing yet disturbing keyboard textures of Courage, to the eerie yet whimsical tonalities of Playground and ending with the plaintive piano, electric bass, and synth tones and washes of the closing track, Frontiers Revisited, O'Hearn's music presents a multitude of styles, but all of them very much in keeping with his long-maintained musical persona, which dwells in the land of melancholy and introspection even when rhythmic elements and overt melodic refrains are employed. He wields his minor key melodies like a poet, painting portraits of reflection, regret, and nostalgia, both in his higher energy pieces and his more floating soundscapes. Few artists can maintain a cohesive vision while traversing such distinctly different terrain, yet O'Hearn does so effortlessly, as if born to it.
O'Hearn's minimal thumping bass merges with eerie tones, shakers, elegiac strings, and a myriad of drones on Restless to paint a picture of a lost soul wandering in search of him or herself. Patterns twinkles and sparkles with iridescent synth chimes, tones, and bells (the track reminds me of Robert Rich's albums Geometry and Gaudi), cast in a somber yet lively mood. Flight features O'Hearn's wonderfully evocative reverbed piano set against a backdrop of layers of keyboards and ambient textures, while muted bass notes beat out a sedate rhythm.
I haven't detailed every track on Transitions (I will leave a few for you to discover on your own), but suffice it to say that Transitions reaffirms the artist's rightful place as one of the pioneers of the "new instrumental music" movement which emerged in the 1980s (I will refrain from using either ambient or new age since this would possibly either insult him or pigeonhole him). It may read like a cliche, but it's also true. Patrick O'Hearn's musical talents resemble fine wine, i.e. getting better (much better) with age. Transitions is not just highly recommended, it's essential listening for anyone who wants to hear a true artist at the pinnacle of his talent.
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Rating: Excellent  |
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- reviewed by Bill Binkelman on 6/29/2012 |
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