Customer Reviews

Glaciation

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Glaciation is an inspiring, peaceful and sometimes haunting journey that is yet another masterpiece from Patrick O'Hearn, put on your headphones, turn out the lights, close your eyes and journey to a magical place.

Patrick O'Hearn's previous album "Slow Time" was a major departure from works that preceded even that one and delved into some territory that would usually be explored by Steve Roach. Yet "Glaciation" is yet a major departure from even that album and while being very distinct in atmosphere and mood, it yet recaptures some of the classic O'Hearn sounds in some places scatterered throughout. I might sound a little odd with other reviewers with this review but there are some jazz guitar skits that bring back long distant memories of the jazzier sounds of "River's Gonna Rise" and "El Dorado". Overall though, this album is a tribute to the chilly climates of the far northern and far southern (Antarctic) latitudes.

Really the only thing that really weighs the album down a slight bit is that many of the songs are very short with almost half of them being less than three minutes in length. "Intrition and Objective" begins with a bleak echoing guitar which echoes through the brief track. Then his trademark ambient sound makes it's appearance and gives a mood like that of looking at a hazy sun that is low on the horizon on the surface of the Arctic Oceans.

Glaciation is more then an album about the coldest continents. It's a continuation of the reduction of O'Hearn's compositions to their barest sustainable structures.

Often, people liken his works, especially those of the last 8 years, with ambient artists. There are certainly likenesses between them, as O'hearn likes to evoke atmosphere in his works too, and as some have pointed out, they're both relaxing to listen to. Oddly enough, one of my least favorite works from O'Hearn is a track on an ambient album. (The Ambient Expanse) Ambient music isn't his strong suit; his strong suit is using the elements of ambience in crafting traditionally harmonic and melodic works. His best work uses traditional musical language (major and minor scales) to convey his specific perspective, while still influencing the atmosphere of the work using ambience. Ambient artists on the other hand deny specificity, and do so by often not using melodies and traditionally definable harmonic structures whatsoever. This applies to rhythm too, as ambient artists may not even use any rhythm. In so doing, one could argue that ambient music's "message" is even more specific, as the experience has been reduced to such non-standard components. Thoughts for another review. LOL

Where this album breaks with his earlier albums is the accomplishment of maturity in his writing to the point of having no excess. His previous albums had gems which pointed in this direction, "So Flows the Current," from the same titled album, "Night Becomes Her," from the Beautiful World album, and one of my all time favorites of his, "Farewell," from the Trust album. But, you could still hear the elements of his earlier writing on other tracks from these albums, elements which can best be described as his trying to remain accessible to the popular music world. Just to be clear, I don't think there's anything wrong with a composer trying to remain accessible, but this *can* conflict with a composer's ability to break free and find his/her truest expression.

Perhaps it's easiest to think of this album by comparing it to others who have also written works about the colder continents. What about "Antarctica" from Vangelis? Vangelis' best work is certainly grounded in traditional harmonies and melodies and this is no exception. "Antarctica" is a great album, strongly subjective and very specific in what he's saying and certainly with sounds conveying the openness and icyness of that continent. One can sing the melodies from Antarctica without a problem, and can easily think of the harmonic progressions. The melodies in "Glaciation," while recognizable to us, are barely singable, the harmonies, almost unidentifiable at times. This is why this album is a watershed, because O'Hearn succeeded in reducing reducing reducing and yet still being enough on not just a couple tracks, but every track. The only other album I can think of which succeeds in the same fashion is the "Dead Man" soundtrack from Neil Young, perfect in its reduction while somehow still being traditionally harmonic, melodious, and yet still accurately capturing the feel of the environment it's trying to portray, the Wild West in that case.

Emotionally, Glaciation isn't vacant, but present in extremely subtle ways. As the album flows, the songs seem to increase in significance. I believe this is because Glaciation's environment is in that which we experience so little. It's beauty at first isn't apparent. Rather, it's barren, exposed, isolated, and even foreboding initially. This is very apparent upon hitting Track 1's (Intensions and Objective) 1 minute and 24 second mark.

Comprehending the mass, one starts to take note of the details. Track 4's (Oblique Formations) interest in structures is nicely conveyed musically through a rhythmic pulse, perhaps produced by delays, with O'Hearns characteristic pads laid over top. The mystery of the structures remain intact however with the unusual chord progression halfway through the first phrase. The experience is thoughtful, and becoming more pleasing, whatever it may be.

Track 10 (Gradual Understanding) is the climax of the album for me. It couldn't be any more perfectly named. After having moved through this experience, it's as though O'Hearn's reached some sort of clarity. Is it joy? Is it letting go? Is it finality? Is it seeing beauty in human absence? I don't know. It's profound and incredibly beautiful, and I want to experience it again and again.

This may be my favorite O'Hearn album yet. I'll have to let you know after I listen to it a couple hundred more times. :)

This release is on the level of ancient dreams. I listened to this for weeks straight without get burned out. An excelllent CD,

I've been a fan of Patrick O'Hearn for a good many years. Almost every song creates some form of visual image in my mind, and that doesn't happen very often with most other composers or musicians. His music "invites" you to dream. While many songs seem to give you the feeling of loneliness, others seem to give you the sense of deep, passionate love. If you like to dream this album is for you.

Yet again, Patrick "O" Hearn takes us to a different time and place,this will take you there to your place and time.Bravo,Patrick,add one more to your master musical pieces.I own them all and this will take me to my peaceful place as you always do.

Another musical contribution from Patrick O'Hearn. This one is mellow, but in the past I have found that "The more you listen the more you hear". It does have the characteristic atmosphere that we have come to expect from O'Hearn.
Most fans will not be disappointed, but this project does seem to lack substance or weight at times. We all know he could do more with a darker, richer, atmospheric, signature sound and I am hoping that he will return to his roots and deliver some "depth" soon.

Glaciation marks Patrick O'Hearn's eleventh studio album, with a release date of 2007. I have listened to this piece of work from O'Hearn numerous times since I first acquired it a few months ago. And I can say that it has grown on me since then. Overall, the music I have heard from O'Hearn over the years has pleased me, and Glaciation does not disappoint. Glaciation contains no vocals and virtually no percussive accompaniment--except for the percussion work on "Our Temperable Host" and "Glaciation." This album consists of 13 compositions. I find all of them to be satisfying. Also, the album's sound quality is pleasant. Words to describe Glaciation would be relaxed, spare, atmospheric, mysterious, and curious. My favorite piece is "Oblique Formations." There is some nice fretless bass guitar work on "Forsaken Beauty," and this instrument is also included on "The Approaching Ice" and "Better Times Ahead." "Resourceful Adaptation" is noteworthy for its strangeness--that being because of the timbre of the keyboard atmospherics. As for the CD packaging, the CD comes enclosed in a digipak. Including the album cover, the five color photos are interesting and attractive. The CD packaging also contains a message: "Inspired by the otherworldly beauty of the northern latitudes and dedicated to all those who share respectful consideration for its future." In addition, the disc is just over 43 minutes. Glaciation is a recommendable piece of work.

I'll be honest, every other Patrick O'hearn album I've listened to sounded extremely campy and uninspired (there's practically a maraca in every song...) But, this one I found to be hauntingly beautiful and very moving. If you like ambient music, this one is a must.

This is definitely one of my favs from Patrick O'Hearn. He seemed to slip a little on his previous release, but is now back on track. I just wish more of the tracks had some slow-moving tribal trance beats.