Northerner - 1976

Bradford's Martin Cummings masquerades as Northerner and there can be no misconception about the references on his '1976' album for the Hibernate Records label. '1976' starts with the isolated electronic drone music of 'The End of December'. With barely audible echoes from a harpsichord, it segues into the title track which features polar electronics that build up into a schematic compositional sequence. The frosty path leads via 'Can't' to 'Ladybirds' where the resonance and icy realms work to full effect. 'If You Could' then ultimately answers the question of more nordic indecision. Northener's album is like a continuous flow of starkly severe and austere sounds which were meant to personify a very cold place. Ironically enough, 1976 was a very hot year with blistering forest fires near where I live. All colds considered though, Northerner's '1976' aptly captures the wizardry of hibernating folktronica, well ahead of when these terms became fashionable. The sound on this mini album is rough and harsh; it builds on cracks of fires, smouldered in ice and snow. The persistant permafrost performance on '1976' persues and perseveres to perfection. '1976' oozed wintery gale storms and nestled in a rut. Ultimately, '1976' proves to be a great example of cold-tronica.