ALASTAIR GALBRAITH - "Mass" CD

Alastair Galbraith - Mass CD (Next Best Way, 2010) Self-released CD edition of the excellent Siltbreeze LP from the same year... "While Morse followed traditional avenues of rugged folk narrative tinged w/ psychedelic foxing, Mass is an unchartered, one-way trip through a world of ritual. Broken guitars, percussive loops, backwards tracking, a (home-made) glass harmonium, lullabies, bagpipe thievery & the odd bit of fighting talk are just some of the many bricks laid here. New Zealand’s Alastair Galbraith, while originally coming from the Flying Nun stable of bands, has for many years now been better known for his experimental works, ranging from early folk-derived songs to sound installations and releases with fellow New Zealander Bruce Russell (of Dead C). While 2003’s Radiant showcased long-form avant-garde work, Mass is essentially its opposite. With 22 songs in 42 minutes, Galbraith here shaves things down into rough nuggets of sound. From drones and plucked strings to churnin