This album is full of those sounds that make my teeth hurt. It is so highly charged with static that bright blue sparks dance off its metallic surfaces, and I can feel them deep in my fillings. There is a considerable degree of sonic perfectionism here, perhaps a result of having two record label bosses involved: the music is the work of one Cory Allen, keen to make an impression with his first release on his own Quiet Design label, and an additional layer of sheen was applied by the mastering of none other than Taylor Deupree of 12k.

The Fourth Way has been painstakingly constructed from Fender Rhodes and Moog, but these source materials have been ring-modulated and processed to the moon and back.  Listening to the opening track “Exedra“, the most obvious reference point I can come up with is Alva Noto: think about the lush, rain-dappled textures of Xerrox Vol. 1, and then add to that the violent raw data stabs of his latest, Unitxt.  A succession of cinematic backdrops are pinned up, admired briefly, then gleefully slashed and shredded until they are but jagged mis-shapes.   After the relatively blissful build of “In Search Of A Miracul” comes another standout: “All Suns” starts off with some pure, ringing tones and burbling water, but these quickly mutate to become Machinefabriek-like drone and white noise, before it ends with some deep skull-tickling bass vibrations.  

With this excellent release, Cory Allen and Quiet Design have comfortably esconsced themseves in the cupboard I call “things I need to keep a close eye on”.  From time to time I’ll put the strange old whistling man who lives across the road in there to keep them company.  And my rabidly rightwing dentist, who I’m pretty sure is fomenting all of London’s hate crime.  I’ve never trusted him.  And I’m sure my fillings aren’t supposed to rattle like this.

The Fourth Way is available now from Quiet Design.