(04.06.06) For several years now, Tim Koch has been quietly putting out top notch electronica. His first releases, that achieved much acclaim, were on the, now sadly defunct, DeFocus label. Koch offered a fresh electronic sound, crisp beats with a C64 melody that infected the listener with 8bit beauty. After the death of DeFocus, Koch went label hopping; releasing on n5MD, U-Cover and his homeland label of Aural Industries. All of this time Koch was in contact with those making music similar to his own, figures such as Proem, Lackluster and their home imprint, Merck. It is on the US based label that Koch now offers up his latest release, a full length album: Faena.

This is Koch’s first full-length release since Islandtones on U-Cover in 2003. Koch’s electronica has always seemed to adhere to two brands of music; the floaty, almost ambient soundscape and the plinky plonky computer music similar to the outing of Toytronic. To an extent, this album complies with this statement. The album starts off down a marshmallow like electronica road that will have the listener sinking back into the chair under a wash of relaxation. The CD maintains this direction for its entirety, with soft, analogous harmonies filling the most part of the album. Melodic bleeps splash over pleasant computerized squelches, leaving the audio interpreter in a soothing liquid of sound. Tracks like "Groove_90" are reminiscent of Global Goon’s Vatican Nitez, with soft harmonic vocals in the background in a plush carpet of electronic soup. "Seven-Ate-Nine" is one of the more playful tinker toy tracks, with some solid retro computer game influences.

Yet, it is not all warmth and bubbles. There are times when the tracks seem to lack a real substance. The album is lightly peppered with minute long medleys which act more like aural nuisances rather than an aid in breaking up or maintaining the flow of the sound. Some of the tracks seem to suffer from the same affliction that CiM, Koch’s former label comrade, had; tracks that end before they have had any time to develop.

The best way to describe Faena is a rainy day album. It’s the kind of CD you’d pull out after not having listened to it for a good while and thoroughly enjoy it. Then it would go back to its resting place, to be resurrected on another odd occasion. It’s nothing groundbreaking, just solid and competent electronica made with a lot of love and care. For any Merck fans, or laid back electronica lover, this CD will be right up your street.

Faena is out now on Merck.

Merck

Tim Koch