DawnChorus -A Bunch Of Colours

DawnChorus

A Bunch Of Colours
self-released; 2013

3.4 out of 5

By Jamie Funk

Avant-garde, abstract, and sinister were a couple of words that came to mind when I first started listening to A Bunch Of Colours by DawnChorus. Some of the songs reminded me of the mist that appears in horror movies right before a zombie attacks or is used to control their mind. While others are extremely sparse barely becoming anything at all until they decide to explode without a moment’s notice. The songs here are different enough to keep me interested if not that excited about the music. As is noted on the Bandcamp page there is quite a dynamic range here at times which can be a bit adverse. A bit more control of the dynamics would have benefited the album. 

The album starts with “Muddy Brown” which is downright eerie as you hear detuned percussion pads, digital anomalies, bells, and a choir, which sounds like the children of ghosts are singing. It’s probably something you should play at your sister’s graduation party. Just saying. The songs actually feel a bit less sinister as time goes by when a drumbeat is introduced. “Dullish Yellow,” the longest track on the album, isn’t much besides white noise and synth pads for the slightest of melodies being sequenced until the electronic drums which contain no low end create a soup of static, high pitched synths, and other elements that create controlled chaos. “The Chorus of Sanctuary,” which was one of my preferred tracks, felt like a chick broke its shell and started to walk. Less ominous and more progressive, the track contained a unique collage of sounds that almost could stand on its own two feet.  The album ends with “White” which contains bells, detuned incomprehensive ramblings and starts to introduce more elements which made me feel a bit dizzy. There are some good ideas here on this album that are never fully realized. I’m hoping that on his next effort he expands on them. Ill wait and see.