Which way will you turn?
Thrill Jockey, 2012
5.6 / 10.0
And They Turned Not When They Went is abstract musical art. It’s the equivalent of being shown a red dot in the center of a blank canvas and trying to understand exactly what it means. Imbogodom, the duo of Alexander Tucker and Daniel Beban, record to analogue tape using foley techniques along with piano and guitar arrangements to create otherworldly, supernatural compositions. Album opener, “Borogmog’s Clock”, may as well operate for a timezone in another dimension with its various skittering noises and general feeling of unease that suggest no sign of human existence.
While the majority of And They Turned… is instrumental, Imbogodom do add echoing vocals to a few of the tracks with their most bizarre statement being made in “Welcome Away” where a phone call turns weird. Strange beeps and flashes populate the “song” if that’s what you want to call it. If I were to say that Imbogodom have made an album comprised of full songs, I could have made similar albums years ago with my friends as we screwed around with instruments in guitar shops. The closest that Imbogodom come to a genuine song is “Heir Looms” that has a mystical and folky vibe to it, recalling Mutations-era Beck. While And They Turned… works effectively at creating some creepy moments, it doesn’t escape silliness like the Godzilla belching outtake of “Etchum Buoy”. But while I say silly, there are some people who’d argue that red dot on the otherwise blank canvas as being “high art”. Maybe I need to be high in order to fully appreciate it.
Purchase: Imbogodom – And They Turned Not When They Went
