One listen, and I spent a good deal thinking about  what I was hearing. Had trouble starting as I was getting stuck on the right words to describe the percussion and that was not a good way to be about it. Should’ve just said something and continued, or allowed myself another listen. Once I got underway, things picked up and I feel the writing gets better toward the end.

Underworld’s “Ancient Phat Farm Coat” is from Pizza for Eggs. The release is part of their Riverrun project which, as far as my understanding goes, was an experiment in releasing music in non-traditional ways that ran from 2005 to 2006. “Ancient Phat Farm Coat” was also included in the single release for their song “JAL to Tokyo”.

I hope you enjoy.

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A steady beat that seems to sway in a breeze. Or just sway. It builds, and the other sounds alongside remain calm and steady. The beat moves, continues on, is anchored. Is muffled, almost. In a dry air, though perhaps not. Could just be a pulse, could be the sound of earth. Could be anything.

Keys come in, calm. They oscillate around a single, invisible point. They continue on, they flow, they move, they rise, continue on, flow, move, lower back down.

Everything moves in a flow and a rhythm, and everything seems to be anchored around one point, moving around it, moving quickly, moving slowly. All held still, moving at different rates, not moving at all, moving constantly. Moving calmly.

The keys diminish and slink more to the side, and something a bit more bright and shimmery comes in, almost harsh. Harsh and slow, elongated, stretching across, stretching its body thin, and continuing to do so after the keys return. And it seems to change around the time the keys rise further than before.

Sounds start peeling away and the keys become more prominent than before. Or rather, the sounds diminish and find themselves in the background, and there’s something in this that could be a sense of joy or familiarity, and maybe some sadness, too. Recognising something that no longer is what it was, or maybe just something that was constantly there, familiar, and recognised only when it no longer is.

And the beat returns in full after something seemingly lurching rises up. Lurching and curving and bending, and everything continues on, maintaining shape, maintaining form, moving forward, and the keys diminish, and the beat grows stronger, more prominent, and all that is left continues on until the song ends.