Inhale by Plum Flower Embroidery

Plum Flower Embroidery is the music of dreams, creativity and imagination and, as such, demands that from it’s listeners. Inhale is no exception and is a good example of how his music demands to be heard and seen, yes, ’seen’, rather than just listened to.

Inhale is not for those who like ’quick fixes’ for their music, nor for a world that demands instant gratification. It doesn’t grab you immediately with a catchy chorus nor does it belt out simplistic riffs and words that are easy to sing a long to. What it does do is create a landscape that develops over time. It paints a picture using sounds, a picture we create in our minds from the sounds PFE has created in his.

Inhale was recorded in 1996, over several sunny afternoons, in a big empty room with wooden floors and sunny south facing windows. This merely serves to add to the inspiration, simplicity and atmosphere that the CD offers. The whole CD was created using a Roland JV35 synthesizer and a Roland 505 rhythm machine and as such offers a consistent sound throughout.

In creating the CD, PFE says “ I just noodled with patterns and improvisations until I got something pleasing and then recorded it to cassette.” However, much more thought has gone into the ‘noodling’ than is given given credence by PFE. There is a delicacy, simplicity and consistency that shines through as well as the unique and individual sounds he has managed to create through the use of such universal instruments.

Anyone can pick up these instruments to develop and create music but the unique ‘patterns and improvisations’ here rest solely with PFE’s imagination. A subtle tweaking of the sounds that the JV35 creates, from normal to ‘wrong’, brings us slap bang into the middle of the PFE sounds cape and, rather than using the programmes the 505 rhythm machine has, PFE triggered the changes manually instead of using the set programming. He also improvised much of the work and recorded direct to a cassette as he was playing.

In essence ‘Inhale’ is a performance that can never be repeated again. It is a performer, sat in a large bare room, developing, improvising and recording with a limited amount of time. There is no practice before hand and the results are just ‘as is’. As a consequence we are faced with a CD that is authentic and spontaneous in its’ performance and recording process, with a simplicity and unfinished quality that adds to the appeal.

As we inhale at the beginning, we immediately catch sight of the imagination and freshness when we are invited into the sunny afternoon with Welcome To The Room. A short introduction offering a bright, yet un-nerving hello. A simple track that brings a brightness and joviality with PFE using the effects of the JV35 and his ‘noodling’ using an ever so slightly off centre bird song that seems to contrast with the clanging bells of doom which offer a glimpse of the more disquieting things to come. A track enticing us to come in if we dare.

As we dare to move along, the CD brings with it an instrumental consistency through out, synthesizer and drum machine combined together and used to full effect. Early on in the CD Inhale demonstrates the importance of the track titles as they enable the listener to create his or her own imagery whilst listening. Using the instruments to full effect, Inhale seems to mimic a rhythmic breathing, in, out, in, out, almost creating the image of time moving forward, slowly ebbing away. It offers a repetitive rhythm that, once again, appears slightly off centre, changes key but still maintains a disturbing rhythm. French Atmospheres provides an atmospheric and claustrophobic mood as once again we witness a rhythm that somehow remains consistent yet ever changing. A contradiction, maybe, but it’s hard to describe in words but that kind of sums up PFE, especially in the instrumental tracks.

The tracks move though in a simplistic, electronic and improvisational manner, moving towards Giant Ants, a beautiful example of what I feel sums up the whole CD. An ambient, dream-like piece which is probably the closest PFE comes to a waltz. The track maintains a gentle rhythm though out whilst we are treated to the Giant Ants moving along through the use of gentle keyboard and rhythm effects bringing with it an almost fairground/carousel feel.

Overall, Inhale is not for those that like their music polished and commercial. It offers a pure instrumental CD that provides a coherent, consistent and sometimes retro feel whilst maintaining the unique perspective of PFE.