Writing without outside remit or the restrictions of his other life as producer and engineer (to the likes of Robbie Williams, Johnny Marr, The Who, Snow Patrol, Bernard Sumner's "Bad Lieutenant", Peter Hook's "Freebass", Thea Gilmore etc.) has allowed Just to combine his multi instrumentalism with a studio “slight of hand” developed over 17 years in the industry. This is no technological indulgence or bland producer album. 10 Rooms contains the emotion so often lacking in modern instrumental music. Having more in common with Eno & Lanois, the artful marriage of acoustic and electronic speaks the language of human sensation, rather than binary. This is personal, rather than merely programmed.
Despite spending so much time behind the glass it is the light and thoughtful technical touch that Just brings to his own recordings that hint at the hand of an all rounder. The producer who can play, the musician who is willing to edit. Mood and atmosphere are the masters here and whatever the personal film that the listener plays whilst listening, it is hard not to dream when floating on these most cinematic of soundscapes. The tracks of 10 Rooms have a collective integrity often lacking in this genre, this being a true album rather than a ragbag of grooves, with each piece a sonic representation of a physical space.
To listen here is to dream one’s own dream. Just has created beds on which to rest your thoughts. Let your mind wander through it’s own rooms and create it’s own little films to this music, made for visions, made to dream to.
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