Joshua L. Evans - Sweater Music

Joshua L. Evans

Sweater Music
self-released; 2014

3.5 out of 5

By Matt Jensen

Last year Joshua L. Evans released Andromeda. The album was a test for even the most die-hard minimalists who appreciated no more than one or two oscillating tones. His latest Sweater Music displays an artist who is getting more tools in his arsenal and getting more skilled at his craft. There are three tracks this time all of which are different soundscapes. More sounds, more layers - things are starting to get interesting.

The first track is “Sweater Music,” which is his most atmospheric and ambient of the three. It starts off sounding as if you are traveling down a wormhole while being surrounded by the emptiness of space. The music is ethereal, hyper-real and would make for a good soundtrack to a movie about DMT. 

You go on that journey for four minutes before he drops you off at “Walk.” “Walk” contains drums, synths and other elements to create a track one could easily compare to Four Tet. Take a listen to Rounds and tell me you don’t hear some of that action in there. Evans’ production is pretty slick. He is constantly manipulating and tweaking. Keeping things interesting.

“Antique” is the last track on the release and is the most accomplished one. He gets into experimental Oneohtrix Point Never type territory here. He really starts to let loose as he tampers with panning, disparate changes and a unique selection of sounds and tones. It’s good - Evans is letting sounds be sounds and taking them at face value. He seems confident that things don’t always need to be pretty. What I wasn’t expecting was the drums and bass to enter into the picture and get all funky like. 

With this release Evans is proving that he is a formidable threat and at this point is rising fast. It’s slick production and some originality. This was the first release they left me hungry for more. The EP is only twelve-minutes long and I wanted forty-five. So what else you got up your sleeve. 

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