MOLAR
The Time and Motion Studies (False Walls)
Reviewed by DJ Johnson

---

Molar's improvised music is pretty freakin' bizarre. This is one of those groups who list "Laptop" as one member's primary (in fact only) instrument, something that always puts me through a strange cycle of feelings from "amused" to "baffled" to "very, very old." Well, a partial cycle. If I could just get back to "amused" I'd be fine. I'll cop to "fascinated," though. While I suspect only true tech-heads would consider this all-weather listening, it can be mighty strange in the best kind of way when the mood is right. Jim Goodspeed (guitar), Matthew Johnson (keyboards, guitar processing and, uh, laptop) and Lars Fischer (that's the guy! Just a laptop!) apparently improvise this stuff, which I assume means they're all workin' it live in the (home) studio, but again, I'm old and out of touch on this particular kind of music and for all I know it involves beakers and stem cells. Sometimes it's no big deal that they're improvising ("Regiment" just kind of falls into a groove and trickles along), but sometimes it pays off in excitement, tension, and a fascinating current that runs between techno and light industrial. (sounds like a job posting, doesn't it?) The most exciting track is "Undertow," which starts with the tension already near the snapping point and still manages to push it higher and higher. I won't be reaching for this when I need to unwind, and probably not when I want to get rowdy, either, but it's just right for contemplative moods when the conventional just won't cover it. There are definitely some kickass laptoppists here.


[This CD can be purchased at www.falsewalls.com/ordering .]

© 2004 - DJ Johnson