Joe Marshall – The Evening Redness in the West C22

Double Dot Dash

I am trying to refrain from making any jokes about this album title because I have to remember my roll as a reviewer and not as a comedian. It seems the only time I utter something I think is funny I end up being the only one laughing. I’m sure any comedy is not intended on The Evening Redness in the West though because in addition to the abstract, colorless artwork the song titles are quite foreboding.

It turns out the sound in Black Dunes is also foreboding with heavy drone being driven by dribbling bits of guitar noodling which fades at about the half way point to make way for some more sinister pulsating harmonies which ebb and flow amidst an enduring low tone.

Side B contains the track Westward Again which starts out similar but uses a more acoustic styled guitar and features moments where the background drones jump to the forefront and interact a bit more with the guitar improvisations. Later in the track the thick layering breaks up a bit to allow room for whitewashed experimental sound waves and echoing disembodied guitar shimmers.

Although The Evening Redness in the West plays out like a classic guitar-centric drone album it does so by using subtlety and emotion effectively. Joe Marshall is able to paint a vivid landscape with his sound which ends up being quite cinematic in nature. Good work and recommended for the soundtrack to the next abstract spaghetti western or merely for those with adventurous imaginations.

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