Two

Two is the second Editions Mego release by Mark Clifford and Scott Gordons dissonant yet alluring Oto Hiax project, appearing two years after their self-titled debut full-length. Like their first album, Two is a visceral, exploratory set of electro-acoustic improvisations that keeps the listener wondering whats happening, how these sounds are being generated, and what the proper reaction should be. Dapple covers eerie rumbling and buzzing, scraping cellos in dubby echo and delay effects, making it appear to be moving in several directions at once, yet it seems strangely peaceful at its core. Overcurve initially sounds closer to lighter, more tranquil synth-drone, but it gradually becomes warped by metallic vibrations and turbulent distortion, coming closest to the more shoegazey moments of the first Oto Hiax album. Strain starts out calm but slightly curdled, then erupts with flashes of light as well as sharply clashing tones; like the other tracks, there are moments when it seems to be building towards some sort of climax or forward momentum, but then it dissolves and floats in another destination-less direction. Plates focuses on the clangs and deep reverberations of gongs and cymbals, ending up as a sort of ecstatic therapy piece. In some ways, Two seems a bit drier and less playful than its predecessor, but its still compelling, immersive, and unpredictable. ~ Paul Simpson