A lot of musicians will identify strongly with this album, which was recorded over the scope of eight years, and which contains exactly what its title implies – the sound of living, breathing construction. If I said that listening to this was like being close to a building site then you would probably run for the hills, but there is a strange sort of ambience at work here too, that means once the ear has adjusted to the concept and its execution the whole album becomes part of the middle foreground. There are six tracks, and not surprisingly no melodies, but Schneider TM (real name Dirk Dresselhaus) paces each one well so that it gradually evolves. The opening title track is nearly a quarter of an hour, but becomes oddly relaxing once the white noise drops away, while the other five are similarly atmospheric postcards, though ‘Container’ does grate a bit with its creepy, creaking sounds that are like doors opening slowly or tyres skidding in the middle distance. A strangely affecting album, more noise than music, but original in its own way. At its time of writing it stopped Dresselhaus from going completely mad – and in the right environment can be a curious comedown in the small hours.
Reviewed By Ben Hogwood
4 out of 5
