Cochran, Todd: From The Vault - Notes For The Future

American musician/composer Todd Cochran’s first credit as a professional player came as a sideman on saxophonists’ Bobby Hutcherson’s 1972 release Head On. He then played on saxophonist John Klemmer’s 1973 album Intensity. He would go on to play with many others as well as playing keyboards in the obscure mid ‘70s progressive fusion band Automatic Man, releasing two albums. Progressive music fans may also recognize Cochran for playing keyboards on four tracks on Peter Gabriel’s second solo album. I do love that album but sadly do not recall Cochran’s name being in the credits. Cochran released his first solo album titled World’s Around the Sun in 1972 and after five or six more we have his latest titled From The Vault: Notes For The Future.

The music spans several genres including ambient, jazz, and electronic, with an all-encompassing experimental approach. This is an album of sound designs and soundscapes and sometimes quite trippy like in the dreamy and layered “Transparencies� where the electronics and keyboards give off a spacey vibe. Before that, the first track “Painted by the Sun� is a keyboard and synth drenched affair with darker tones, interesting drum work, and an almost foreboding atmosphere. I hear a Native American feel in the esoteric “In You I See Endless Memories� while “Moon Glow� takes the listener to Asia with its oriental motifs and heavy bass sounds. I think I hear Mellotron in the sweeping and majestic “Eye Dreaming� and in “Isms Prisms� the funky keyboard notes mixed with dreamy passages invokes the avant-garde and all the imagery that entails.

It should be said what you hear is all Cochran, and there is no doubting he is a talented keyboardist and sound manipulator. Whether or not this will be for you will depend on your love for experimental, keyboard-driven music. I suggest listening to some samples and go from there.

Track Listing:
1. Painted by the Sun (6:41)
2. In You I See Endless Memories (1:48)
3. Isms Prisms (5:06)
4. Transparencies (2:55)
5. We Make Two, Two Make We (2:34)
6. Eye Dreaming (3:48)
7. Moon Glow (2:22)
8. Hymn for the Hidden People (2:31)
9. The Spinning Circle (1:57)
10. Inseparable (7:47)

Added: August 13th 2024
Reviewer: Jon Neudorf
Score:
Related Link: Artist @ Bandcamp
Hits: 144
Language: english

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