Robert Ziino- Eclipse Unmasked

ARTIST: Robert Ziino

ALBUM: Eclipse Unmasked

LABEL: Experimental Artists

REVIEWER: Matthew J.

DATE: 8-11-07

Even at the best of times, Robert Ziino's minimalist synthesizer experiments are hardly accessible to the casual listener. The main problem with his newest album is that none of the separate experiments really go anywhere, so there isn't much holding them together. That said, there are some charming little sonic snippets on here. The repetitive clucks of "Loon Chamber" give way to a plaintive loop that sounds like nothing so much as mewling kittens, and who doesn't like kittens? " Adolescent Confusion" is less mammalian in nature, but no less organic; with deeper, croaking squelches, it's like a frog pond recreated by robots. The panning, tinkling tones of title track "Eclipse Unmasked" feel a bit like being trapped inside of a music box, and "Black Hole in the Abyss," as its title suggests, is spaced out but low-fi, like something you'd here on a black and white sci-fi TV show. Again, some more extended musical concepts would be nice, but if you like your weirdness in small doses you could do worse than this.

Visit Robert Ziino online at www.experimentalartists.com.