This album comes from the prolific Austin based composer and filmmaker Sarah Lipstate. Noveller describes her solo instrumental electric guitar project which, on this album, also utilises synth. For one so prolific this is an admirably cohesive work and it is described as being “steeped in place, both real and fantastical”. The fact that this is about places then and not people may be a telling factor with regard to its cohesiveness?
Into The Dunes is a brilliant opener. Maybe this fantastic place is Mars, maybe a desert here on earth? This track has it all. A melody, a kick, a punch and a gentle caress. In fact, for instrumental ‘mood’ music it sounds to me like a great single.
There is only really one track on this album much over five minutes long and perhaps in terms of reaching a wider audience, this is a wise move. No Unholy Mountain and Rubicon are quite ‘drifty’ and serpentine. The later reminds me of Tangerine Dream for some reason but I am also thinking of bands like Labradford whilst listening, although Noveller is probably a bit more in your face.
Sisters is a start stop affair. Starting off with an ‘afro’ guitar motif and then stopping and starting up again on keyboards this time. It plays out that way until the end with a very ‘stuttery’ conclusion. Concrete Dreams sounds more ice than concrete with hymnal synth as a backdrop to the iceberg.
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The glacial mood continues with the intro to Pulse Point but a third of the way in things get a whole lot more prang and clang (sounds like a krautrock band name for a krautrock track) with lashings of feedback for good measure. We even get some beats two thirds in and the seven minute length and general dissonance of this track makes a good counterpoint for the rest of the album.
In February gives us melody again. This album is extremely cinematic. It is no surprise that Sarah also works on soundtracks but more importantly is also a filmmaker. This is clearly informing her music. It would be very interesting to see this performed live. Would the tracks develop into longer pieces? Would we also be provided with a visual/filmic experience? I sincerely hope so and I expect that would be very powerful.
Although I shouldn’t have to say this, let’s not forget this is a woman effectively soloing on electric guitar for the duration. Something to be treasured then. And the last two tracks? Well, you will just have to find out for yourself won’t you?
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