"Leak" is only $15.00CAN plus shipping and taxes where applicable!

Regular vistors to the ping things site will probably already be familiar with Jim Combs work as part of ambient duo TouchXtone. The Atlanta based project has been performing and releasing music for the last few years and have gained quite an impressive following and a number of local awards. In addition to his work with TouchXtone, Combs has also been presenting a regular improvisational performance event where he's been composing music on the fly, exploring new roads and leading his audience down new pathways. The results of this musical journey can be heard on the debut disc "Leak" by his side project Sensitive Chaos. Composed for the most part in spontaneous live performance, "Leak" is a fascinating and enjoyable disc with much to offer the listener.

The disc opens with "Leak", a slowly building track where minimalist melodies intertwine with eachother, ultimately forming a rather intricate tapestry of sounds. It's a beautiful piece, and a fine example of the idea that sometimes the most complicated things can be the most simple.

Track two, "Android Cat Dreams of Mice", features an array of percolating bell-like tones and assorted other like minded instruments creating a nice rythmic pattern that shifts and evolves over the tracks nearly fourteen minute length. There's a playfulness to this track, a sense of frivolity and fun paired with a strong display of musicality and arrangement. Nicely done.

"Starry Night" follows, a twinkling and delicate piece that perfectly captures the beauty of it's title. A sublime sax line from guest Brian Good adds a nice organicism to the piece, playing along masterfully with a lovely percussive pattern that grows throughout the length of the track.

Vocoder and slight arpeggios feature prominently in "Painting Earthtones in Orbit", a track that continues the space-y themes established previously and expanding on them, turning them into something almost celebratory and joyful. A really nice piece that particularly stands out on a really nice disc.

"Bullet Train" has a very slick and metropolitan feel to it, like life in the big city, blink and you'll miss it, but keep your eyes open and you'll be in for a treat.

"Nightshift at the Baby Mecha Nursery" closes the disc, a track that captures a childlike innocence and wonder, while still maintaining a feeling of wisdom and maturity. Simultaneously delightful and thoughtful,

There's no doubt that with "Leak", Combs has cemented his reputation as a gifted improvisor and further has established his solo work as a distinct entity from the TouchXtone project. I look forward to hearing more from this project, and I'm very interested in exploring any new pathways that Combs leads us down with future releases.

rik maclean - ping things