The Gateless Gate - 2013 - Heikan no Setsu

Quality: 4 out of 5
Trip-O-Meter: 4.25 out of 5

A few years back Bjork threw "Medulla" in our direction, which was a completely accapella set of tunes.  For better or for worse, this was my shark jumping moment for Bjork as nothing she's made from that point on quite got my attention as the earlier recordings did.  Now, the Gateless Gate, whose first album I absolutely dig have dared go that route with their second release.  Fortunately, my admiration remains.  Whereas Bjork seemed to use the vocal approach simply as an excuse to go "bip bip PFFEW!!!" over and over again, this album bases much of its vocals in throat singing and other sacred and shamanistic Eastern music. I don't like it quite as much as the debut, but it's a fascinating and welcome progression.  The Gateless Gate are certainly not repeating themselves (or himself if you want).

My favorite tracks are the throatier ones, which suggest wide open desert highlands of psychedelic rust.  "The Mirror of Hui-neng" presents a vocal rhythm of the slow train to Lhasa, and the one-two-three punch of  "Bodhidharma at Shaolin," "The Realization of Dogen Zenji," and "Gaki" present us with an almost fifteen minute run of a meeting with the head monk in his mirrored meditational chamber.  I'm not as hep to the approach on "Sunrise on Mount Shumisen," and "Eihei-ji," which seem to skirt on the realm of Tibetan doo-wop or something.  This is likely the danger of going all vocal with your album.  Still, it's admirable experimentation and "Interdependent Coorigination" throws some prime, melancholic Brian Wilson vocal chords in our direction, which is always welcome.  The closing "Light" throws in some lyrics, which does disrupt the vibe someone, but it's not a bad tune and continues with some fine vocal pads as 'instrumentation.'

I think the Gateless Gate  remains an Eastern-flavored act to keep up with.  This album is certainly an interesting diversion, but I'll definitely have my ears perked up for a less constrained recording.  I think the best music is created under limitations, but it's also important not to less those limitations overpower the core of the music.  Fortunately, this disc remains quite interesting over the course of its running time despite the rather extreme limitations.

Listen and download here:
The Gateless Gate - 2013 - Heikan no Setsu