Scythe - Head X’Change

Another string added to the David West bow with this long-distance collaboration with R.A. Jones, who I'm choosing to assume is the same 'Bob Jones' who accompanied DW on his excellent two man pre-covid UK tour in promotion of his Cherry On Willow record. What they did at those shows wasn't that closely connected to the record they were flogging, instead an experimental guitar-based, sampler-supported Gottsching style groove out. And sure enough, what they're doing here on Head X'Change isn't exactly like either of those two things, but I'd confidently guess found a little of its footing in those performances. The press release states a komische influence, and so the Gottsching thing of course makes sense, though a record does allow for explorations and intricacies that the live arena perhaps does not. As such, there's a vaporous, ethereal drift to some of these productions that feels amongst the most sensitive and subtle work in West's career, which is quite something when you consider how heartbreaking a good number of the indiepop confessionals he's written are. This is a different kind of sensitive though, wordless and serene, what you might call ambient, but with enough texture and idiosyncrasy to keep it sharp and engaging. Idiosyncrasy also resides in the concept that holds the record together - an imagined journey outside of Earth to far off lunar plains. It's hard not to think of Tangerine Dream when you hear such things, which you don't need me to tell you is no bad thing , but let's not do a disservice to the modern production qualities Jones' history working with contemporary surround sound systems affords the project. In short - it sounds great, rich textures and tones, and crucially buried beneath that veil of serenity is something a touch more dystopic, John Carpenter-in-space style (though not Ghosts of Mars!). Another shapeshift from DW then, and in RA Jones an ideal foil.