From Iceland — The Heavy Experience : Slowscope

Published October 9, 2012

Calm and commendable. Supplementary dynamics, such as a surprise tempo change or bombastic instances of some sort, would have made this Slowcope perfect.
It’s all in the name. Six slow, stripped down instrumental songs. The scope is that of great space, distance and depth. This is a journey of cinematic proportions. It could score a film as well as providing the soundtrack. With my eyes closed, I feel as if I am drifting in space. I wonder the desert aimlessly, only to congregate with sea creatures that live on the ocean floor.
‘Slowscope’ is the loner’s music. If you aren’t a loner, The Heavy Experience helps you feel cool imagining you’re one. That is, if you’re willing to give yourself to it in peace and quiet. If preoccupied while listening, you will certainly miss out on the album’s subtle nuances. The album builds on drawn-out transitions, silent breaks, timing and free-flowing give-and-takes that only a collective soul such as this five-piece can pull off.
Dial into the improvisational vibe that’s anchored with recurring schemas and motifs that give each song foundation to build on. But due to the samey mood and tempo throughout, ‘Slowscope’ must be enjoyed as a whole rather than in increments, although “Hiatus” and “Elephants” manage to break away to some extent. With this in mind, featuring more than six songs would have broken the camel’s back.
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The Heavy Experience play Iceland Airwaves at 20:00 on Thursday at Harpa Norðurljós.