In some parallel dimension, Clayton Noone and Antony Milton must be stars. There is no way that two people as talented as these guys should go virtually unnoticed by most of the world. Throughout their many projects, they've shown abilities well beyond their age. It's nearly impossible to keep track of the numerous styles they've tackled successfully. In fact, I can't think of many artists who release so much quality music. It's a testament to how much they really love the music they make. Claypipe, their collaborative effort, lives up to the high expectations I had.
"Crescent" is the second official Claypipe release, after a 3" in the Jewelled Antler Library series. This full length release takes the ambient soundscapes present on that EP and expands on them. These long, drawn-out epics are like their own great story. Each solemn note is another chapter unfolding. Noone's guitar playing is the main character, triumphantly moving toward something greater than itself. Milton's violin scrapings are the perfect complement, pushing the hero in the right direction. These two play off each other beautifully.
And for the record, I now proclaim that Clayton Noone is my favorite living guitarist. In some unexplainable way, this man is a genius.
During the 38 minutes that "Crescent" lasts, your mind will be warped. Molded into slushy perfection, these whirling drones reach the deepest crevices of your cerebellum. The intrinsic beauty that underscores each of these four pieces is like the collective conscious that holds it all together. In other words, each track is only as good as the sum of its parts. And let me tell you, when you consider the entire project, the result is magnificent. These tracks play off each other like Noone and Milton play off each other. It is fantastic
Each scratch, scrape, and static catharsis is in the right place. It all creates a hazy mood in which relaxation is unavoidable. Strained piano notes dance underneath a wall of noise acting as a constant reminder that in all chaos, there is beauty. And in "Crescent," that beauty might be shrouded or hidden in fog at times, but it's undeniably there. It's always watching over you, waiting for the perfect moment to remind you that everything balances out in the end. If you just open your mind and let it drift away, you will find the harmony in all living things. 8/10 --
Brad Rose (25 May, 2005)
