Originally released in Japan on the Belgian
Crammed Discs
label and subsequently re-issued on
Made to Measure
,
Douzieme Journee
treads that odd ground combining
ambient
music with
roots
in
Eno
and various so-called world musics, here concentrating on those found in Northern Africa and the Mid-East. This confluence seems to have been in the air at the time as witness similar efforts from
Hector Zazou
and the
Penguin Cafe Orchestra
.
Lew
and ex-
Tuxedomoon
member
Brown
, ably assisted by label mainstay
Marc Hollander
, fashion cinematic sound-pictures heavy on rich drones and invigorated by generally Arabic rhythms. Worlds collide, but do so in a gentle, dreamy manner such that the abuttal of ringing synthesizer and handheld drum sounds illogically natural.
would go on to refine this approach leading up to his superb
Nebka
, but all the groundwork has been laid herein, making this a worthwhile pick-up for listeners of ethno-ambient music that still retains some bite and otherworldliness. ~ Brian Olewnick