PETER ASHBY - Incidentals

ARTIST: PETER ASHBY
TITLE: Incidentals
LABEL: Six Armed Man
FORMAT: CD
SOUND QUALITY: Very Good / Studio
AVAILABLE FROM: http://www.dynamitevision.com/

TRACKS

1. Incidental 1
2. Ephemeral piece
3. Incidental totality
4. Pruritis
5. Opposites combined
6. At any given moment
7. Joining piece
8. Disco go crazy smash smash
9. Synthesizer with echo
10. Incidental 2
11. Buckets
12. Analogue drop out

Peter Ashby is a multi instrumentalist who emerged through the diy cassette and fanzine scene of the early 1980's. He was a founder member and original bass player for Spasmodic Caress (an early signing to 4ad), he was also an original member of obscure cult band Frenzid Melon as well as the highly rated the insane picnic. These days he describes himself as an experimental composer / musician and he also works as a producer.

This CD has little information with it but it appears to be comprised of demo's and outtakes from his diy cassette days. It certainly has an early 80's feel to it especially the lightweight bouncy production, the drum machines, the slightly funky bass playing and the thin synthesizer sound that gave birth to synth pop. At times the music is experimental and perhaps a bit moody and at others you almost expect some vocals to come in and morph into Yazoo or Depeche Mode. There are a few yearnings for something of more significance with the occasional leaning towards prog rock or jazz. At one point I thought he was going to break into Jan Hammer (circa- Miami Vice). There's a real post punk atmosphere with some nice guitar that reminds me of the Monochrome Set.

Whilst the album is not a groundbreaking masterpiece it is worth some attention. The overall atmosphere is light and breezy and it's quite refreshing to listen to. It is also quite nostalgic for those of us who were part of the cassette culture era (or dare I say movement). It reminds me of the sounds, the attitudes and the sense of community we experienced at that brief and largely unrecorded juncture in youth culture and music history. If you are familiar with Peter Ashby's music today you will hear the roots of his work on this album. It's an interesting historical document in that sense.