Gaudi

Inspired by the unorthodox, surreal architecture of renowned Spanish architect Antoni Gaudi (who was reportedly once called the "Dante of architecture"), this album finds Rich exploring appropriately abstract and stimulating sonic terrain. Keep in mind that the natural harmonics of just intonation come into play, and the mesmerizing results are appealingly otherworldly. The first four tracks engage your ears with continually interweaving tapestries of synths, winds, and mallet percussion, and they constantly find new patterns to morph into. Like Gaudi's buildings, these instrumental compositions twist and turn in unforeseen ways. The next four pieces dive into deep, dark, and less rhythmic ambient locales, slowing down the pace before the appropriately titled "Mosaic" reenergizes the album with more kinetic, electro-acoustic sound sculpting that brings the album full circle, recalling his previous Geometry opus. At first listen, Gaudi comes off as one of Rich's more cryptic works, but successive listens prove that it is also one of his most fascinating. --Bryan Reesman