Despite claiming to be diverse musically, Hardcore-Punk/Noise-Rock/Stoner/Doom and Post-Punk/New Wave in fact occupies the majority of my time both in my reviewing and regular listening habits. The fact that Dubliner Alan O'Boyle's work has passed me by therefore is hardly surprising.
O'Boyle has been making music since the 1990's starting with Decal who notably put out their 1996 Germ Rocket EP on the late, great Andrew Weatherall's sister label Sabrettes. Other projects followed such as Legion of Two/Legion of One, Ajax Disco Spanner, Decoy, In Motion and of course Of One. The name of Alan's latest solo venture according to the promo-notes derives “from a comment by David Lacey in the Legion Of Two days that I should record an album of the bits between songs from the live sets”. Prior to Domains was 2021's Feedback Loops 1, 2022's Feedback Loops 2 and 2023's collaboration with Whirling Hall Of Knives Recoil/Greywash, released by the ever dependable Cruel Nature Records. With my knowledge of the genre not particularly extensive I'm venturing into unchartered territory, I'm hopeful I can do it justice.
'And Wait We Did' features killer Hip-Hop beats as well as Industrial textures that recall Justin Broadrick's Techno Animal and Experimental Hip-Hop duo Dälek. Though the tone is predominantly dark and Bass heavy, the lush Synths lift the piece giving it a wonderfully airy and dreamlike feel, a superb start. 'Alles Ist Klar' or Everything is Clear to give it its English translation, is faster and more indebted to the Techno Alan makes in the aforementioned Decal. Whereas music of this genre can go over my head, the music here by contrast is incredibly engaging. Elements of Big Beat brilliance ala The Crystal Method comes to the fore with a crisp, exciting and futuristic sound which could have soundtracked any number of late 90's movies; think The Matrix, Spawn et al. A number that surpasses expectations. 'To Flow Downwards' starts slowly and once more the Hip-Hop influences make themselves known with an infectious Drumbeat that recalls Grandmaster Flash and tracks like 'The Message' as well as shades of Electro pioneers Yellow Magic Orchestra. Not only the track but also the album have amazed me with how groovy it is, a testament to its maker's experience and talent.
'Lucky Dog' is a little different featuring wonderful drones you'd otherwise associate with bands such as Sunn O))), Om, Earth but put to a Funky House backdrop. There's also Psych and Space-Rock flavours to be had if you're listening carefully. That's what's been so enjoyable and thrilling about this release, Alan is absolutely fearless about incorporating other elements into his music, sublime. 'A Reckoning' crackles and shimmers with Dark Ambient Lustmord tendencies as well as really cool John Carpenter (Starman in particular) and Kraftwerk style Synthpop. Then follows two outtakes the first of which 'Today Everything Changed' is the longest number on the album at nearly seventeen minutes long. The track begins with a cacophony of Noise, the kind which my friend David Brenner aka Gridfailure engages with before receding further into the background allowing the tracks more danceable qualities to shine through. In some ways a continuation of 'A Reckoning' but no worse off for it and 'All is Clear' draws the album to its conclusion with tasty Electro-Funk reminiscent of Herbie Hancock's early 80's work (Future Shock, Sound-System).
Despite an initial trepidation in my decision to cover Domains, I needn't have worried because this is an accessible and varied record which everyone will able to appreciate regardless of whether they grew up in the Dance/Electronic music scene.
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