Before they took the Metro North Run_return did a little math...Sum of an Abstract is their little known self released first album. Now repressed by n5MD after a few years of unavailability this time around remastered and repackaged complete with 3 bonus tracks. A shining album of "futures passed" still sounding current, relevant, and true to form, galvanizing Run_return as a band that is as distinctive as it is timeless. You do the math and come up with your own sum...

angryape

Run_Return, a group of three friends based in California, formed through a shared love of vintage recording equipment, digital editing and the Krautrock movement of the 1970's. Employing innovative recording techniques with some colourful organic instrumentation has enabled this group to craft a sound that seems carefully calculated, but is in fact full of warm melodies and kaleidoscopic textures.

With such an inventive streak, comparisons to Chicago post-rock veterans Tortoise are inevitable. Run_Return, however cite the likes of Brian Eno, Richard D. James and Cluster as influences. 2005's, "Metro North" LP was released by n5md and received plenty of warm reviews. "Sum Of An Abstract", again on the excellent n5md imprint, would seem like a natural progression. It's cutting edge, original and exciting, a real step forward from this band. Except for one thing, the majority of this album's 13 tracks were recorded between the years 1999 and 2001. Originally self-released and since completely out of print, n5md have polished this rough diamond down and have repackaged and remastered an album that is truly remarkable.

Blurring the lines between genres such as post-rock, jazz, dub, IDM and ambient, "Sum of An Abstract" sounds a fresh as anything out there right now in the contemporary electronica scene. It seems that while music media lavished unanimous praise on the likes of Four Tet and Helios, they missed the boat on the band that designed the blueprints. Run_Return had the imaginative electronica angle covered while Kieran Hebden was more concerned with his post-rock outfit Fridge. Four Tet was a couple of years down the line for Hebden for example, when Run_Return recorded the outstanding "Tributary".The pick of the bunch here, it ambiguously mixes uplifting IDM with jazz percussion and glorious vibraphone sounds.

With its warm acoustic guitar work and filtered ambient sounds, "Wake Up" captures a similar mood to Keith Keniff's Helios project. But when it is married with some expert programming, it resembles something more akin to Aphex Twin. While IDM can often leave listeners feeling cold and sterile, it's not an issue for Run_Return. Only a select few have mastered the art of creating something using machines and computers, but seems extremely heartfelt and personal. Run_Return have these qualities in abundance, especially when they combine gorgeous organic instrumentation and experiment with different structures and textures. "P.A.U.S", for example, contains some jittery programming and a phased kick-beat, but is contrasted with a wonderful, chiming melody reminiscent of The Album Leaf.

It is rare for music that was recorded so long ago to sound so fresh, but this is the essence of what makes Run_Return an appealing proposition. It would have been a travesty had this album remained in its previous state of deletion. n5md deserve enormous credit for having the foresight to release an album that still sounds innovative as the day it was first released, despite the fact some tracks are closing in on being a decade old. Of course, with such an enigmatic sound, Run_Return have been unfortunately labelled with some awkward genre titles (e.g. Future Jazz and Post-Rock Folk Chamber Music). Personally, "Sum Of An Abstract" should be free of forced genre restrictions and filed under absolutely fantastic, instead. textura

Run_Return's last collection, the superb Metro North, appeared in late 2005 but, instead of issuing an album of new material, the Northern California trio of Kevin Dineen, Tommy Fugelsang, and Raj Ojha appears to be in limbo with one of its members having departed. In place of a new album, then, we get a reissue of the group's little-known, self-released debut Sum of an Abstract with three bonus tracks added to sweeten the deal.

The move may disappoint fans eager for the band's next step but, taken on its own terms, the repress is a solid enough collection that often sounds like a blueprint for Metro North. Like that album, Sum of an Abstract balances laid-back acoustic songs (the lovely, warm “Thoughts Broken By Footseps”) with punchy, typically electronically enhanced post-rock throwdowns. Electronic, experimental, and ambient moments also surface during the fifty-three minute set: “Wake Up” entices with its combination of alluring melodic gleam and crisp electro-funk beats, while the more experimentally-inclined “Genius Chilly” layers stuttering voice edits over a skittish funk groove. The bonus tracks generally set aside post-rock for other styles: a mellotron-like front line lends “Jyggawhom” a slightly proggy vibe, “Team Action” is a Proem-styled IDM vignette, and “Yah Chilly” is an electro-funk exercise that includes a moog synth part that would make Keith Emerson salivate.

What ultimately separates Run_Return from your average post-rock outfit is the melodic strength of the band's material, something heard to full effect in compositions like “Airlanes,” where a signature vibraphone theme rings out over a rambunctious and slightly glitchified, drum-heavy base, and in the exuberant “Tributary.” Nevertheless, Sum of an Abstract is a stop-gap so here's hoping Run_Return resolves its personnel issues sooner than later so we can read the next chapter in the group's story. debug

Irgendwie erinnert mich diese Musik nicht selten an Gamelan oder ähnliche Arten von Musik die in einer anderen Tonlage stattfinden als der, die man hierzulande gewohnt ist. Die Beats sind dabei aber sehr konkret und leicht elektroid, trotz ihrer digitalen Verzerrung und Präzision und haben einen leichten Lofi-Charakter und wenn sie wollen, können Run_Return auch schon mal wirken, als wären sie eine Jazzband, die aus dem Erbe von Kieran Hebdan schöpft. Eine Platte, die auch manchen Folkfans gefallen dürfte, weil sie sich in den Sounds gerne zugänglicher gibt, als sie manchmal ist. Clevere Symbiose aus Impressionen und analogem Gefühl. papercuts

Ne vous y trompez pas, malgré les apparences ‘Sum Of An Abstract’ n’est pas le dernier opus de Run_Return. Il s’agit de l’injustement méconnu premier album du groupe réédité ici par l’excellent label n5MD et agrémenté de trois bonus. Une excellente occasion et façon de (re)découvrir l’univers planant et envoûtant du groupe.

Run Return pourrait facilement être décrit comme groupe en marge de la scène electro actuelle. Non pas que leur musique soit inaccessible au commun des mortels, bien au contraire, mais le trio a une façon bien à lui de mixer les sons organiques et électroniques pour arriver à des compositions si caractéristiques.

L’un des points forts indéniables de Run_Return est d’allier avec grâce et élégance les instruments électroniques les plus vintage – claviers notamment – aux parties des plus organiques (batterie, basse, xylophone). Le mélange est des plus intéressants et permet même au groupe de se passer de chant, rendant tout de même ‘Sum Of An Abstract’ passionnant.

Oscillant entre le post-rock, le jazz et l’electronica et faisant la part belle à l’expérimentation, les 13 morceaux de l’album sont une véritable invitation au voyage. Impossible d’être déçu par la destination. On redemande du ‘Juggawhom’, du ‘Wake Up’ ou du ‘Thoughs Broken By Footsteps’! La musique de Run_Return est fortement addictive et c’est plutôt gage de qualité!

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