“variations on cruising altitude” is a wonderfully perplexing experience from start to finish. The title of the first track is “_in a dirigible over the atlantic” and I thought maybe this would be some sort of homage to Neutral Milk Hotel, but no. Instead it’s a cacophony of percussion that sounds like a mob girding for war. There are three similar tracks on this album with “dirigible” in the title; they’re the longest tracks here and are spaced out throughout the record.
But, the other songs in the mix are all over the map. After the dramatic opening song, “flaagnum” is a totally different, relatively mellow song with looping electric guitar and simple rhythms. What’s next? Well, track three “sev 1” is a slightly disturbing ambient drone track. And from there we’re back to more “dirigible” music and a mix of other songs including simple acoustic guitar (“mercury time”), heavily layered drones and noise (“sev 2”), and an experimental noise piece that sound like backward helicopter noises enhanced with occasional snare drum and electric guitar (“heli i”). It’s all so unexpected but all so well done, and somehow makes sense in its own nonsensical way.
And my laugh out loud moment came when I clicked on the “video” link next to “heli i.” Apropos of nothing is a video involving a well-known song, a swing set and a fire…just do yourself a favor and go watch it.
Bottom line: I’m not sure what it all means, but I truly enjoyed the ride.