Leaving is the solo project of Perth’s Rupert Thomas, a sparse counterpoint to the more directly expressive forms of music he has contributed to as a part of Erasers and Split Level. ‘Modern Version’ was recorded on a four-track tape recorder earlier this year, and while it doesn’t retain the ragged shapes that often follow the four-track, it seems to have been an influential medium. There’s a sparsity here that’s surprisingly gripping.
Like most good ambient music, ‘Modern Version’ is unlikely to remind anyone of anything in particular. It recalls little more than whatever lies in the most absent recess of your mind at the time of listening. Listening to ‘Modern Version’ gave me a fleeting taste of what having an appreciable attention span must feel like – it was pretty comforting.
*
‘Modern Version’ appears ahead of an LP to be released at the end of this year on Perth label Pouring Dream.