Elegy for Time

Album Review

Elegy for Time stands out in Matt Borghi's discography. It is not as easy to listen to as Huronic Minor, but it exerts more fascination. One senses Borghi in full control of his art and eager to push his music higher into ethereal planes while retaining an element of melody. The previous albums were put together with synthesizers and an acoustic steel string guitar. This one sticks to the guitar, treated by the computer in real time. The grain of the guitar is therefore more prominent and the music develops more quickly as every note Borghi plays is mirrored and fragmented by the computer. The resulting soundscapes are lush, shimmering, and vibrant, often recalling the work of Aidan Baker, another soundscape guitarist from the same generation. Elegy for Time presents 12 tracks averaging five minutes in duration. While the material on previous albums often sounded like faded edits from longer sessions, these tracks take the form of self-contained vignettes. Track titles allude to a person's journey from birth to death, but the music remains unattached to the underlying concept, even though it has an obvious yet undefinable spiritual quality to it. Highlights include "Wonder-Filled Illusion" and "Blessed," both very delicate in their melody sketching (more like a suggestion of a possible melody, up to the listener to complete). A beautiful listen, recommended to meditators and daydreamers alike. ~ François Couture, Rovi