AyGeeTee “Imminent Orphan”

13 Nov 2014 — Richard Greenan

Words change music. On the surface, Shostakovich's fifth symphony is a heroic piece of socialist realism, Stakhanovite victory trapped in golden oilpaint. Read around and the same tones appear fragile, sarcastic, frightened. This was a composer writing for his life, smile forcibly held in place, frozen by perpetual ovation.

Here we have the latest offering from producer AyGeeTee, Imminent Orphan. Initially this sounds like a crisp, almost jaunty beat tape. "Brothers of Knowledge and his Brothers", and "Closed Door End Call" unroll with a chiselled energy, while the expansive chords and handclaps of "Leaving No Insides Out" hint at a nicely frazzled Balearicism.

But Imminent Orphan is a thing of tragedy, written in the short six weeks between AyGeeTee's father's terminal cancer diagnosis and eventual death. Suddenly the drums loom overhead, crackling electromagnets propelling urgently forward and skyward. But the meanings are yours to construct.

AyGeeTee writes, "if anyone wants to dance, jump up and down or whatever positive reaction you just might feel, please go ahead because I certainly don't want anyone to have a bad time listening to this tape."

Imminent Orphan is out now on limited cassette via Reckno.