Melliflua
Reviews for fans of contemporary instrumental music
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Oenyaw - It's Just a Matter of Time - Oenyaw (2006)

5 tracks. Running time 5:12:22

It's Just a Matter of Time is another one of David Higgins's epic MP3 albums – the shortest of the five tracks being over fifty minutes long! Readers of this site familiar with his style will have a good idea what to expect. Basically it's long form minimalist drone music where the nuances and interconnected threads can best be appreciated by concentrated listening sessions.

First up is “Hoping Tomorrow Never Arrives”. Inspired by not wanting a new year's day to end and the quotidian struggle to restart this piece is made up of high pitched kind of accordion like drones. As the piece progresses the timbre of the drones change and sometimes become more excited like charged particles.

For me the most appealing track is “The Sun, The Moon and Talia”. Layers of light and resonant textures act as a backdrop to a haunting melody of sorts created by rippling strands of sound. Later in the textures take on a silvery glowing sheen as the piece moves towards a finish of otherworldly washes and calls.

Breaking the album in two is the middle track “Strength Through Joy” which features sequencing, and is apparently a composition of 112 chords. The sequence of repeated notes becomes gradually faster creating a sense of being worn out by too much to do.

Those who enjoy hardcore drone works will find much to relish in It's Just a Matter of Time. I find the easiest way to get on with Oenyaw's work is to listen to sections of about fifteen minutes because the tracks are probably too long for all but the most committed listeners, unless one uses it as background music.