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Tim Coster & Mark Sadgrove, untitled (23:02), CDR (CLaudia, 2005)
Tim Coster & Mark Sadgrove, untitled (18:53), 3” CDR (A Binary Datum, 2006)

Yet another great team-up from the extremely healthy Auckland scene. Both men have a string of fine solo releases (Sadgrove mostly working under the mhfs moniker) on fine labels …. it seems only a matter of time until the world outside sweaty old K Road catches on (in a just world at least …. so who the hell knows). But in the meantime Tim and Mark give us these two gems of computer-based dream sound, one a piece on their own labels.

The CLaudia release comprises 15 short tracks which simultaneously sharpen one’s mind and wrap it in the softest of blankets - crisp austerity given a hug. Clean, almost Casio-like feedback tones cycle calmly then slip away and reconstitute themselves. It’s not pure mong-out though as there’s a significant layer of thoughtful digital patter and guitar-string-as-sound-wire investigation bouncing both off of and into these tones. An assured debut to be sure.

(18:53) is even more zoned in/out as bass and computer gradually reveal themselves from within murky near-stasis. The simultaneously icy and mud-thick production recalls non-early Lovely Midget, while the generally uneasy atmosphere and low-end swoon is somehow (very vaguely) suggestive of 154-era Wire ….. or perhaps Gilbert & Lewis’s post-Wire project Dome playing Eliane Radigue covers. In a pillow factory. While heavily sedated. Perhaps. Now that’s my idea of a great gig!

Ben Spiers

Contacts:
Tim Coster/CLaudia: intergalactim@gmail.com
Mark Sadgrove/A Binary Datum: m.sadgrove@auckland.ac.nz ; http://atom2.phy.auckland.ac.nz/binarydatum/binarydatum.html
ACROMA (distribution): http://www.cmr.co.nz/acroma/