Buoy

They Say...

Review by François Couture, All Music Guide

A different venture for DJ Olive, this solo CD keeps a low profile in every aspect. It certainly doesn't deliver the best representation of the man's art, but it remains enjoyable and deserves more than the low-key setting the composer himself places it in. He begins his short liner notes with the following words: "This is a sleeping pill. Listen to it as quietly as you possibly can." Released by Room40 shortly after the sleep-targeted Melatonin compilation, Buoy indeed makes a very nice slumber-time companion, and some listeners may see nothing more to it than an hourlong program of soft keyboard chords and incidental, decor-setting sounds. And if you do listen to it as quietly as you can, you will probably hear nothing more than that -- nor reach its last seconds without dozing off. On the other hand, at higher volume the piece takes control of the listening space. Those keyboard chords are actually samples (taken from vinyl?). They run forward and backward, left and right, with various attacks, and form the backbone of the work, while other sounds come in and out of focus. Those include other musical sounds (piano strings, light percussion), also sampled, edited, and recomposed, and a host of delicate household sounds, from a chiming clock to a door being quietly opened and shut. These are part of a setting meant to suggest a sleepover -- or at least a friendly, cozy, and reassuring environment. It works well enough, mostly thanks to a flawless sense of pace and an intriguing selection of sound sources. Again, Buoy is the exact opposite of a display of virtuosity, but as understated as it is, it reveals a high level of craftsmanship.