I had my doubts whether this was really a good idea. A solo bass guitar record? Hmmm. But Björn’s at it again having form in this regard. Dismally, I have no recollection of the earlier Provenance – some of our younger readers weren’t even born when the album came out – and neither do I have a particular desire to hear it. Or rather didn’t before becoming besotted with this turn up for the books new kid on the block. However, I do know the now 60-year-old’s work on some classic Anouar Brahem recordings such as the 5-star The Astounding Eyes of Rita.
Ah, lovely Rita, nothing can come between us. Does this new ‘un function as mindfulness? Perhaps a bit. But that’s a different thing. So, the meter fully ticking away, when you reach a track like ‘Rewired’ – where there is a dark edge lord quality to its whirligig atmospherics induced by electronics and lotions of textural flow – the idea of an aural version of a laidback beanbag and jimjam friendly daytrip to a “spa resort experience” might come to a screeching halt.
Because Meyer isn’t looking in the rear view mirror much – but where it does the album sounds ever so slightly in places like – careful now, please don’t read the next two words if of a sensitive disposition or allergic to capes – sprightly prog. This studio affair recorded in Munich in 2024, veers well away from being new age-y or pathetic. No pan pipes were involved although ‘Motion’ comes perilously close.
However, I did start staring at my lava lamp with a new found admiration and began to explore the idea of learning more about ley lines, growing my hair all the way down to my socks, checking into a hermitage, and becoming a vegan. That’s the power of music.
Convergence is inspiring. It’s the ideas really and the warmth of the textures. Meyer keeps things taut where necessary and there’s such exactitude on a track like ‘Magnetique’ for instance.
I like the dark, brooding pictures sometimes painted in the starker passages. But there’s also a contrastive skipping lightness and love. Björn again it’s certainly all born to run and as a work out far more up our street than being bored rigid and feeling ridiculous – again – in a gym in a forlorn attempt to fight the flab. Top of my “to do” list is to seek out time to listen to the earlier record of the Swiss based Swede’s. It’s a good sign when you are left wanting more.
