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Ever since Kotche joined Alt. Country legends Wilco, things have been on the up and up for both parties. Due to Kotche’s relationship with Jeff Tweedy, the duo have since released a record with their brainchild and sideband Loose Fur and given Kotche the means to release two solo albums full of his experimental percussion ventures. Something was definitely right about that decision to take Kotche under the wing of Wilco, as their collective success has become the stuff of legend. With the release of Kotche’s major label debut ‘Mobile’, it now seems it is time for the talented musician to fly on his own.
‘Mobile’ is by no means a record for Wilco lovers, or even lovers of Loose Fur, it stands on its own as a sonic experiment exploring all directions of percussion, that at first listen sounds far too complicated, but after a while becomes the soundtrack to any emotion thinkable. Each ensemble constantly challenges the listener to find something in which they can fall in love with, yet it is not a hard record to get into. There are no ‘songs’ as such, yet compositions of percussion instruments such as xylophones, vibraphones, full scale drum kits, pianos and even guitar strings dragged across broken snare drums. Mobile is an album that will of course appeal to those of experimental music, but not exclusively as there are beautifully crafted jingles that sway under a chaotic pressure, looking to collapse under its own musical weight only to be built up and saved by the hammering of a piano or gentle chiming of a xylophone to draw everything back together.
Yes it is a think piece that does require patience, but it is in no way a dull or inaccessible album. Sure there are some tracks that go off the deep end a bit (‘Projections of (what) Might…), and some that are really self indulgent (‘Individual Trains’), but none are ever boring, as there is always something new and cool popping up.
The album revolves around three main tracks that all other tunes build up to and are modelled on; ‘Mobile Parts 1&2’ and ‘Mobile Part 3’ seem to hold true to Kotche’s love of jazz, as offbeat and opposite rhythm is held together by a melancholic piano loop that is atmospheric and beautifully put together giving the illusion that the piano keys are just being randomly hit, only to slide into a groove that complements the entire album. ‘Reduction or Imitations’ is the glue that holds the later end of the album together as offbeat piano playing is once again utilised, but accompanied by wind chimes and xylophones that become a hauntingly beautiful composition and the highlight of the album.
Mobile is a smart yet politely assertive record that stands on its own, shedding band similarities and bravely taking a direction that others would be too afraid to take a risk on. Kotche hasn’t created a masterpiece, but it is damn close.
