“This is a record about cities inspired by a book about cities. So, the great wheel turns, eh? Anything with Todd Tobias is worth a listen mind; from his work with GBV to his solo stuff. And this release on new Dutch label Tiny Room is no exception; a set of meditative pieces that are in turns, funny, clumpy, cussed, melancholy and really raw. This capriciousness is hinted at by the titles. You see, each track has a byline – so Saz (for example) is ‘city of descended masters’. However I don’t really ‘hear’ ‘the city of hidden tails’ in the grinding clump Kur or a city that inseminates the sun in Nargesh’s croaks and squeaks. Though I sort of get Kish being the ‘city of helper cats’; even though it comes on like a knackered old Ethiopian wedding tape that’s been left out in the rain. Listening to this LP’s an exercise in pure fantasy.
The Eno-esque* opener Lamura is a gem, and in no way a preparation for the rest of the LP which – if I have to make my own summation – sounds like the sort of ‘throwaway’, whimsical, ‘back-of-the-envelope’ record that turns out (on repeated play) to be really, really addictive. Other tracks to watch out for are Dravidia (which walks the same path as the stuff on Will Sergeant’s Themes from Grind) and Smazbaal and Wermol which are fabulously paranoid pieces. Worth a listen for sure.”