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Captures the bleakness of current humankind trajectory and contains sprinkles of the beauty of existence. His best so far in my humble opinion.
"I’ve been aware of Welch’s work for a while, but this is my first sustained exposure, and it’s been quite satisfying. The record came to me (as records do) with a few comparisons, and a couple, Noveller and Tim Hecker, really help to illuminate Welch’s mode of operation. It’s not that he sounds especially similar to either; instead, he’s using guitar and electronics to make an instrumental LP that’s something other than a “guitar album” or an “electronic album,” or for that matter, the two interwoven." THE VINYL DISTRICT
"Produced solely with electronically treated guitar, here we have an album that’s kind of ambient, kind of drone, yet more than just that. Welch’s day job is as a funeral director, and that reflects in the music. It’s sometimes dirge-like, but I didn’t find it completely without warmth. This album at times almost feels like it’s trying to give the listener a semblance of hope that is most welcome in the current, troubling times we live in. Kind of like how a funeral director would console the family of someone recently departed. There’s a sense of inevitable finality in many of these tracks, I mean, that’s how life works. But maybe there is something else, something brighter..." - SCENE POINT BLANK
"I'm always impressed when someone enters an established genre and manages to still surprise within the boundaries of said genre. While guitarist Tristan Welch calls his brand of music "maximal minimalism", his performances are full of an odd humanity. For stuff so bare, so simple, it's amazing how this all sounds both so otherwordly and grounded. That said, Temporary Preservation, Tristan's best offering to date." A PESSIMIST IS NEVER DISAPPOINTED
"Welch draws on his experience in creating lifelike appearances for the deceased to sculpt darkly pretty compositions, capturing the steely and impersonal cityscape of out times – looming towers, abandoned districts." - BACKSEAT MAFIA
"Temporary Preservation lifts its title from Welch's profession; a term he uses to describe the process of restoration of a lifelike appearance of the deceased. As expected, the solemnity Welch experiences in real life passes on to the music, and the result is now and again rather affecting." - DESTROY//EXIST
"It's all the product of what he does with his guitar. The tracks will all have some repeated musical core to them, with progressive layering to heighten what makes them beautiful. As time marches on, the notes may start to bleed out beyond the dividing lines that were established in the previous repetitions, or the timbre may appear to degrade as the cleaner layers drop out. It all seems to be coming from a perspective of knowing the impossibility of holding on to the beauty of a moment forever, while also understanding that it's still good to try." - ENDAURAL
"But like a good artist, he creates a space for us to go a little deeper into the important things in life. The music is an aid, whether for relaxation or thought or mood altering. My internal weather is certainly different after having sat through the record. This album is a little bit of Temporary Preservation of my soul, though the title, like many of the titles, has negative connotations as well. Listen through the album, take the titles as guiding stars, and see what you come up with in the process. A deep, enjoyable, if sometimes upsetting experience. " PRISM REVIEWS
"A desolate, dark ambient Magnum Opus by Tristan Welch..." - LAST DAY DEAF
Temporary Preservation is a record about capturing a moment in time – but only for a moment. Tristan Welch has spent the greater the part of a decade explaining the embalming process to grieving families. A licensed funeral director by trade he specializes in the restoration of a lifelike appearance of the deceased. The term that is used frequently for this process is ‘temporary preservation’. While Tristan has been creating music while participating in his day job – his focus has tended to be on various social issues (sometimes vague and sometimes precise). With this record he wanted to focus on feeling; albeit from direct experience.
This record is created with all guitar – treated with electronics to create unheard sounds. Tristan has always had a fascination with ‘maximal minimalism’ and repetition. This has led to longer ‘drone’ or ‘ambient’ pieces in the past but this record realizes shorter song structures. Still extremely focused; these pieces take a cinematic, atmospheric, mini guitar-orchestrated punk approach. Forever engaged in believing that all music and art should be accessible the sound may be experimental but never completely out of reach. The guitars soar with synth like sounds, wave’s crash from fuzzy rhythms blended with distorted punctuations. A depressive and isolated experienced with an inkling of hope.
Temporary Preservation presents Tristan’s most complete work to date. This record displays his maturation process from a hard work ethic - countless local Washington D.C. area performances, regional touring and a steady stream of releases. This next record he has chosen to fully engage that work ethic with a DIY approach by recording and releasing this record on his own. Though there may be some flaws in the experience – it’s only temporary.
credits
released April 30, 2021
Performed, Recorded and Mixed By Tristan Welch
*Additional Bass/Synth on Soul Exhaustion by Jake Reid (Alcian Blue/Screen Vinyl Image/Secret Wilderness)
Mastered by Billy Pizarro
Album art by Erik Ruin
Album Layout by Chester Hawkins
Tristan Welch is a musician & artist based in the Washington D.C. metropolitan area. His focus is creating soundscapes via
electric guitar, treated with electronics. A self-professed fascination with minimalism and repetition is evident in his work- a hypnotic layering of melodics that evolve and dissipate while maintaining a steady tone center....more
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supported by 10 fans who also own “Temporary Preservation”
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supported by 10 fans who also own “Temporary Preservation”
A fantastic album. I can see why they didn't continue under the name The Evens, as it's a different sound with the bass added. Coriky is the Evens + Joe Lally from Fugazi on bass. If you can imagine The Evens with a slightly more funky, aggressive sound like Fugazi... that's what you get! And there's no way that can ever go wrong. What a great debut album!! smiledozer