3.5

Release data:

Bryan Carrigan – Below Zero
CD/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Peonies Music, 2013

Listening and reviewing music is all about discovery and (re)interpretation. With his fourth album “Below Zero”, accomplished US-composer Bryan Carrigan takes his instrumental eclectic/hybrid music into the territory of chill out and down-tempo styles with groovy bass lines, beats and exotic electronic soundscapes along pleasant gentle melodies.

In addition to the usual arsenal of high-tech synthesizers, samplers and drum machines, “Below Zero” incorporates ambient piano on most of the tracks for a cohesive quality and even sees Bryan play moody trumpet on the laid back lounge tracks “Twist of Lime” (which also has a certain cinematic rim) and “Frisky Martini”.

Of the 14 tunes, I personally prefer the straight-forward electronica exercises “Below Zero” and “Slinky”, immediately followed by the six nice down-tempo pieces (“Premise”, “Thespian”, “Detour”, “Almost There”, “Catalan” and “Carousel”).
If you want to shift to a higher gear, simply select the more upbeat-oriented instrumentals “Runway”, “TGV” or the positive vibes of “New Day”.

As usual, this versatile but still cohesive collection of pieces received some outstanding mixing and mastering, making things end up in an impeccable, transparent and vibrant sound design.

Website: www.bryancarrigan.com

You can see what reviews I have done of this artist on the Bryan Carrigan artist page