Kiln - s/t EP
(Roomtone)
Kiln's electronic constructions (as they are referred to in the liner notes) are along
the lines of work by bands like Seefeel or Lithops. The EP is characterized
by soft washes of sound that build to occasional climaxes, which are underlain by
pulsating beats. Kiln's use of this formula, however, mostly avoids the pitfalls
often encountered by others who use a similar approach.
The stand out track on the EP is definitely "Afer." Over a slow pulsating beat, a wash
of sound approaches from the distance and then retreats. This pattern is repeated,
each time increasing in intensity until it reaches a powerful, but not overly dramatic
climax, evoking the best elements of early Flying Saucer Attack. The second track,
"Mene," is also a particularly successful construction. The beat is quite a bit more
prominent on this track and is complemented by some very light washes and what
sounds like guitar harmonics. The rest of the tracks on the EP cover similar ground,
although maybe a little less successfully.
Kiln are working in a genre that is prone to emphasizing idea over substance, and
while they haven't shied away from trying something that could be construed as
"artistic" (which to some equals pretentious) it is evident in the music that Kiln's
emphasis is on substance.
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