- Ben Baker Billington's output as Quicksails certainly feels at home among all the outstanding electronic music Spectrum Spools has released over the last few years. In addition to maintaining an impressive rack of vintage synthesizers (from Korg and Roland to Sequential Circuits and Nord), he enjoys exploring the spacey middleground between kosmische, musique concrete and what renowned critic and WNYC radio host John Schaefer once labeled "New Music" (i.e. where first-generation ambient and the New Age overlap). This, however, tells only half the story. What distinguishes the Chicago-based artist from label-mates like Bee Mask, Driphouse and Three Legged Race is how he reconciles the progressive-electronic tradition with his considerable roots in experimental jazz and underground rock.
It's a reconciliation that expresses itself in a number of ways on Mayville Dream, most notably the sweeping array of acoustic instrumentation on just about every track. As the longtime drummer for Tiger Hatchery, Billington is an absolute fiend for percussion; in addition to traditional drum kit, he uses bongos, shakers, bells, tambourine and even kitchenware. Yet he's also a versatile enough musician to be capable of adding upright piano, flute, voice and tabla.
One of Mayville Dream's most arresting showcases for Billington's vision (as well as his musicianship) is "As High Above The Lightning," whose amalgam of passionately swelling synths, frenetic electric-piano and chorus of cries and moans feels very much haunted by mid-'60s spirit jazz. Equally potent is "Only Escape." Falling somewhere between muted and somber, it weaves together electro-acoustic manipulation and ghostly chimes that wouldn't sound out of place on the Art Ensemble of Chicago's early masterworks for the Nessa label. The same can be said of "Night Bats," but rather than chimes, it's flute that supplies much of the tune's haunting flavor.
Contrasting nicely with the aforementioned cuts are playful opener "The Many Roads Towards Mayville" and "Institute's Innards," both of which find Billington harnessing the jazzier elements of his style in service of art-rock deconstruction. The results are cosmically rippling vibrations and trippy ear-play that actually recall vintage Todd Rundgren (whose two most outré forays into synthesizer-laced pop, A Wizard, A True Star and Todd, have become quirky cult favorites in the realm of experimental electronic music lately).
Maybe part of the reason this record is such a refreshing listen is that avant-garde musicians interested in fusing jazz, rock and electronics are something of a rare breed these days. Outside of Ben Vida's criminally short-lived Bird Show Band ensemble, as well as Ed Wilcox and synthesist Charles Cohen's free-improv duo, there simply aren't a whole lot of names out there blowing minds in this particular vein. But even if the opposite were true, Mayville Dream would still stand out, because the bulk of its charm ultimately rests on Billington's ability to create music that is personal, unique and really quite soulful.
Tracklist01. The Many Roads Towards Mayville
02. Institute's Innards
03. As High Above The Lightning
04. Only Escape
05. Bemus Has Wings To Fly
06. Closer To Towanda
07. Night Bats
08. Dancing By Yourself
09. A Late Realization