Colliding Layers

When the phrase “library music” comes up, the image that comes to my mind is of dusty LPs with modernist covers containing music played by a paid-by-the-hour band of session musicians imitating funky rare grooves. While these tracks could well soundtrack cinematic images, Alex Figueira, who composes, plays and produces absolutely everything on here, lays down a psychedelic, Italo-exploitation groove that attempts to transgress library music and reach the heady heights of jazz. Each track follows the structure of a film score: a melody is set up and then repeated on an array of instruments, such as the Rhodes, miniKORG and Moog. The vibe veers from frantic chase scene to simmering sexual tension to blood-dripping satanic ritual, demonstrating quite an array of musical atmospheres. ‘Monumental Bowl’ is a high-pitched head nodder, and ‘Frit Fondue’ is a reasonable slice of psyche-fromage. It’s an enjoyable romp with some added funk, but not startlingly original.