When I found out that Mike Shiflet had a new disc out, my first thought was "I have to order that!" The very next day, I received a package in my mailbox from Mike with Llanos in it! Turns out he liked my review of his cassette Cycles and wanted me to review this disc, too. So of course I popped it in, and have been enjoying these dense, smooth drones ever since.
Llanos is a really strange feeling: sounds that should be harsh, abrasive, and discomforting weave together into an unbelievable tapestry of beauty. The album opens up with "Antrium" which has this slow, pulsating rhythm to it. It's comforting and mellow, and while I was listening I even caught myself breathing to the implied beat.
The rest of the album keeps with this melodic static kind of feel until the standout track "Sunbathers." This track is everything Shiflet knows about harsh noise (which is quite a lot. Don't let this drone album fool you, this guy is a veteran eardrum shatter-er) compressed into something strangely non-harsh. I really don't understand how he does it. Sonic squeals, chirps and crunchy synths all make their way into this track, but the feel of it is just as relaxed as the rest of the album.
Llanos concluded with a different vibe, a smooth track entitled "Gunpowder (For Raglani)." This one is a bit different from the rest of the album in that it's less of a static-meltdown, it's more of a sunshine haze if that makes any sense. This track really closes the album like a perfect sunset on a perfect day.
[Mike/Editions Shiflet Blog]
[Buy Llanos from Shiflet's personal website]
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