Review: beware of the slope by The Owl and the Octopus

It has been a while since The Owl and the Octopus released new material. And, this was worth the wait.

I may be biased, but it doesn’t matter. My good friend, Mr. Horn, released this gem on March 1 as he completed and submitted this piece for the RPM Challenge under his The Owl and the Octopus moniker. Google it if you don’t know what that RPM is. Anyway, this long-form sound collage is one of those things I enjoy listening to.

Just shy of 40 minutes, this meandering collection of sounds is calming and captivating. Beware of the slope starts off with what sounds like a field recording from the city that soon melds with some piano runs  that sound like they were recorded in an empty house. This melding sets the tone for the whole track. A slow and progressive movement between sounds, music, and ambiance. Nothing sounds out of place, and at the same time, you don’t know where it is headed.

Before you know it, the song is over. Unless you’re me and you had it set on repeat. That’s when you realize this album is one long loop that you’re happy to keep playing.