'...a living testimony to craftsmanship, vision and a painstaking A2D'...
'giving this a very high recommendation indeed'
Steve Pescott The Sound Projector
BUFFALO ORBISON BY NICK PYNN
OSCAR RECORDS OSC003
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ALBUM NO. 8
This is Nick’s 8th release of self-penned music, and his most experimental to date.
From short songs to drone based explorations, on a range of electroacoustic instruments including 5 string violin, 5 string banjo. guitars, mandocello, theremin and autoharp with guests providing marimba, drums and cello.
Some of the pieces change depending on how and when you listen to them- melodies suggest themselves through harmonic overtones-
One candlestick or two faces?
Buffalo or Bison?
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Buffalo Orbison is available worldwide in CD and download formats from Bandcamp and directly from the online store here.
It is also available on iTunes, Apple Music, Amazon etc.
REVIEW
Nick Pynn
Buffalo Orbison
UK OSCAR RECORDS OSC 003 CD (2018)
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Now that accompanying sleeve art is so evocative of a certain ‘Public Information’ film of yesteryear, I was half expecting to glimpse ‘The Spirit of Dark & Lonely Water’ to come gliding into the frame at any moment. An image that really does go hand-in-hand with the works of Nick Pynn, an experienced practitioner in many aspects of avant folk. A sound world in which Pan’s domain of field and woodland is enhanced by the dipping of a cloven hoof or two into twenty-first century technology.
And since Nick’s “Mirrored Sky” debuted back in 1995, that technology in the shape of live looping and bass pedals has certainly boosted his multi-instrumentalist tendencies. Abilities that must’ve been thought of as gold dust by past employers such as Steve Harley, Arthur Brown and, this is where it gets a little weird… U.S. comedian Rich Hall in his guise as country ‘n’ western singer Otis Lee Crenshaw. Told you! “Buffalo…” Nick’s eighth release of self-penned material, is a mixture of two easily signposted parts. Its drone-based instrumentals like the banjo/theremin breakdown of “On a Moscow Train” which transports Clara Rockmore onto a deep south back porch and the gorgeous Bill Nelson-like ambience of “Luminescence” compliment his more economical folk-based songsmithery. Though “Ximmy Go Dark” and “Bric-a-Brac” are less four-square poesie and more Times x-word cryptic. Richard Skelton and the more recent exploits of Mike Chapman; like the “Fish” l.p., spring to mind as likely clues.
And remember that old chestnut about saving up the best until the last moment? Well, this multi-tasker must surely be an adherent to that idea as the closing three part set of improvisations “The 5 a.m. Light”, “Playing your Hand”, and the grandiose “Abandoned City” really do cap it all. These massive faux-orchestral structures are a master class in layering/overdubbing techniques. Magicked up by a veritable one-man philharmonia, it’s a living testimony to craftsmanship, vision and a painstaking A2D. How does he do this?
Truth be told, I’m woefully seven albums late in encountering Mr. Pynn…but I’d like to redress the cosmic balances somewhat by giving this a very high recommendation indeed. There.
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Steve Pescott The Sound Projector 11/6/19