Francis Gri and Wil Bolton – Imaginary Tales

KrysaliSound

Apparently there are only forty copies of the latest KrysaliSound collaboration between regular colluder Wil Bolton and label head Francis Gri, which seems crazy considering the soothing quality of the sounds contained therein and the current need for them as the world lurches from one crisis to another.

There is an immediate sense of calm once the disc starts, a murmur of phased electronics encircle a sleepy guitar figure. There is a languid intimacy in “The Door With Amber Stones” that cuts through the wavering soundscape; it moves restlessly like crops in a breeze as the guitar motif repeats, always drawing our focus back with subtle changes that keep us attentive. You can feel the sun rising, shifting perspectives, changing shadows, moving reflections on leaves, the chant of the mellotron a warm flutter.

The tones here are very much a sleepy summer’s day with a few notes of sharp wonder; a brief hint of sunshine in the eye, but the soft focus radiance finds sounds bleeding into one another. Some sort of woodwind effect with an oboe tone circles like a large bird scanning the ground, using the updrafts of the modular synth to gain fresh height and causing the view to change constantly. As ambient music goes it works really well; it is always in motion but not intrusive. You pay attention because the changes draw your ear naturally, with plenty going on.

Each of the six pieces on Imaginary Tales is different enough, with the melodica sound of “The Relief In An Empty Row” drifting lazily while guitar thoughts are released with care. The electronic loop pulses are like little shivers that run counter to the overall drift, whilst the sound of a thunderstorm in “The Forest Of Whispered Answers” conjoins with a more eastern vibe that evokes a mountain temple in deluge, activities ceasing as we wait protected by the roof; but still outside, contemplation reigning.

A half-heard conversation infects “The Story Of The Wise Fool” and you can tune it out or try to follow it while lounging beatifically. Imaginary Tales is great food for the imagination as they are almost little soundtracks to your own stories and into which you can inject whichever images might suit you at a given listen. You can find time drifting away as the gently evolving patterns unfurl before you and the wind-driven ascending piano motif of final piece “The Ripples Theory” is a lovely touch before the album draws to a close.

As with many KrysaliSound discs, you can spend a lot of time with them and not grow tired. There is always some fresh way to hear them depending on your mood and the atmosphere of the day, and that can only be a lovely thing.

-Mr Olivetti-