Although improvisation has been the key for C. Spencer Yeh on his previous outings as Burning Star Core (and solo), here he has decided to plunge into the world of composition. Given the (artistic) success he has achieved with the free-form tendencies he has displayed on violin, electronics and some truly odd vocalising, shackling that freedom in exchange for fussy detaling could have left him on shaky ground.
But he has found his feet in this realm with ease. Perhaps this is because the improvisations on hs most recent full-lengths – ‘Blood Lightning’ and ‘Operator Dead…Post Abandoned’, both 2007 – were travelling in a specified direction, and that harmonic and melodic features were becoming increasingly prominent. The big difference with ‘Challenger’ is the length of the tracks, these are bite-sized chunks when recently the tendency has been for three-course meals.
It begins and ends particularly strongly, with both the opening title track and the closing ‘Un Coeur En Hiver’ recalling Eno’s ‘Apollo: Soundtracks And Atmospheres’ being haunted by poltergeists. Both tracks feature celestial synths, and what is striking about the album is the range of instruments and textures that coalesce across it: Yeh’s trademark violin, piano, Jew’s harp, electronics and found-sound recordings, often formed into loops and swirling motifs.. The boldest piece of experimental tinkering is ‘Mezzo Forte’, which sees a tiny vocal snippet aranged and layered into a drone, and is finally flanked by a simple piano melody and some guitar feedback.
There are several gorgeous melodies here, not something usually associated with the BXC’s brand of avant-drone; the soundtrack feel of ‘Mysteries Of The Organ’ is particularly memorable. The whole thing invokes the spirit of Satie and Eno more than once, as well as the likes of Faust and the French post-prog band ZNR. While it’s not all of the same high standard (neither ‘Through The Bars Of Rhyme’ and especially ‘No Memories, No Plans’ are that interesting) it is an exceptionally good listen.
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