Beautiful World
It is a beautiful world, though perhaps not the honey-colored, sunshine-dappled landscape that the title might imply. More than blossoming flowers and gentle breezes, Patrick O'Hearn paints a picture that embraces the dank, fecund undergrowth where life is formed. His music is textural, roiling with atmosphere, but not buried in it. Joined once again by longtime musical compatriot, guitaristPeter Maunu, O'Hearn conjures upEnnio Morriconedipped in an ambient bath on tracks like "Magnificent River." His electro-grooves range from the sensual on "Facing the Sun" to the demonic on "Night Becomes Her." Taking a cue from Erik Satie simplicity, O'Hearn employs melody sparingly, as if he's hoarding the last bottle of water in the Sahara. Which makes it all the more powerful when he finally deploys it creating the crescendo of the title track. A former bassist withFrank Zappa, member of the pop bandMissing Persons, and a charter member of the new age Private Music label, O'Hearn's breadth of experience has always set him apart from his peers and that's still apparent onBeautiful World. --John Diliberto