Djenjer- Vortex

Artist: Djenjer
CD Title: Vortex
Label: Self-released
Reviewer: Matthew Johnson
Date: 8-4-06

Djenjer is the project of Moroccan composer Yassine Maroufi, and his debut album marks an impressive entrance into the world of dark minimalist electronics. Reminiscent at times of Ivan Pavlov's Coh project, Maroufi's music is deceptively simple, comprised for the most part of basic tones repeated in gradually altering rhythms. Unlike many ambient artists, Maroufi for the most part dispenses with effects; although "Planet Cries" does employ some reverb, the other five tracks on this CD rely more on unadorned analog tones and gently buzzing feedback. "Astral Communication," for example, is comprised of nothing more than two layers of buzzes, pulsing slowly and alternating between a handful of frequencies, while "Around Newborn Stars Melted Planets Spin" is a thin, metallic drone wrapped in just a hint of static. Perhaps the most creative use of primitive sound, however, is "Cosmic Tempest." Like Maroufi's other compositions, it's based on just a few drone sounds layered in a methodical rhythm, but tension is created with sudden cut-offs that accent the metallic tones the way a cymbal crash accents the snare drum. This is subtle stuff, to be sure, but very rewarding to those willing to listen closely.

Go to http://djenjer.atspace.com to learn more about this release.