GAJOOB Review by Briyan Frederick, 2024:
In the ever-evolving landscape of experimental music, The Paradise Crew by Speech Index stands out as a testament to the boundless creativity and ingenuity that can be achieved through unconventional means. Released in 2024, this album is an auditory journey that defies conventional categorization, blending elements of experimental electronic, free jazz, noise, and sound collage into a cohesive and captivating experience.
From the moment you hit play, The Paradise Crew transports you into a world where dictaphone recordings of voices intermingle with improvised beats and cheap synths. It’s a vibrant tapestry of phone calls and audio snatched from the ether, and airy ambient soundscapes, short bursts of mayhem give way to a blend of disparate sounds in drone. The album’s genius lies in how it manages to weave these elements together seamlessly, creating a fluid and cascading sonic experience.
Each track on the album feels like a movement within a larger symphony. Drones serve as an underlying current, providing continuity and depth, while the sporadic bursts of noise and life keep the listener engaged and on their toes. The interplay between structured rhythms and chaotic bursts of sound is mesmerizing, ensuring that the listener is constantly discovering new layers upon each listen.
According to the artist, Speech Index, and their label, this album is a blend of “experimental experimental electronic free jazz free noise improvisation, noise, noisescapes, sound collage.” This eclectic mixture is evident throughout the album. Each piece feels like a snapshot of fleeting moments captured and then transformed into an auditory collage. The result is an album that feels both meticulously crafted and spontaneously created.
Media: Digital.
Bandcamp URL: https://speechindex.bandcamp.com/album/the-paradise-crew
Listing No. 5292
