Noxroy - Atlas/Wings: Infinity

Cascading guitar notes swirl and plunge through the opening moments of ‘Cotyledon Observatory,’ introducing a wholly immersive soundworld that alternately shimmers, loops, and surges. It is a fitting first moment for Andrew Fitzpatrick’s debut full-length as Noxroy, an album that derives much of its material from solo improvisations with guitar, effect pedals, and digital software. From this simple set-up Noxroy’s processed guitar layers phase and shift in abstraction (‘Alchemists’), dance and glisten on a seemingly placid bed of texture (‘Wyoming’), and generally carry great force in its small gestures.

At this point, Fitzpatrick is best known for his exacting guitar-work in All Tiny Creatures (Hometapes), but his list of collaborators and guest roles also include Collections of Colonies of Bees, Yellow Ostrich, and Sparklehorse/Death Cab for Cutie engineer Beau Sorenson. For this reason, ‘Cotyledon Observatory’ does not feel like a beginning. Noxroy is confident and clear in its vision, with each of the seven pieces appearing like different shades of the same vibrant color.

Purchase: www.restandnoise.com