The title of Daze Maxim’s first album in fifteen years refers to his discovery of breathing exercises, which happened just as he was beginning work on the album. It plays out as an intriguing travelogue, moving from slow and meditative though to much more direct and primal urges. Put simply, it makes you want to dance half way through! Before that though there are some interesting constructions that play on his jazz sensibilities, such as ‘Happy Collapse’, which has short piano thoughts drifting in and out of focus, as though the listener is changing the dials on an imaginary analogue radio. By the time ‘On The Way Back’ kicks in the focus is more obviously techno-based, with bold rhythms and a low, metallic sound. For the rest of the album this rhythmic focus is maintained, through a set of darkly shaded tracks that keep the instinctive style within the confines of four to the floor beats. It is an effective combination.
4 out of 5
Reviewed by Ben Hogwood
http://soundcloud.com/eyydale/sets/daze-maxim-rising-falling
