Hobliminal Ibloid

?Action at a Distance? by The Hobliminal Ibloid
Sound - Music Reviews
Written by Beth "Witchskate" Kelley
The Hobliminal Ibloid, the name itself is intriguing. At first, I thought of Hobstweedle--traces of Robert Plant?s beginnings. The meaning of Hob?s name is quite interesting in its own origins, in that, there is a meaning yet there is not. I was looking forward to doing this review just on the name alone. I think I like Hob already.

Not knowing quite what to expect, I dove right in. The first song is called ?Expectation?. The filter sweep used at the beginning draws you right into the song. This is a relaxing yet uplifting song. The 80?s influence is easily recognizable. While his influences were the Cocteau Twins and Simple Minds, this is evident in his works.

?Good Friends? is another example of not knowing what to expect, except that you expect it to sound as good as the first song. It does not disappoint. The songs flow from one to another like a river flowing into different little individual streams.

When I saw electronic, I was a bit worried. A lot of musicians tend to over use all the little bells and whistles which are available on today?s keyboards. Hob does not. He has carefully thought about the placement of each note, phrase, and beat. It is complex, yet simple. The layering of each of the sounds is perfection in the making. His use of effects also is not overpowering .

One of the more beautiful songs on the CD is ?Lost and Found?. It has a dreamy quality that lets you drift away. It feels like your spirit is flying overtop of mountains and out to the sea with a freedom not known in our mundane earthly bodies. There is a lightness to this song which kept me in the moment. This is one song which I kept hitting replay. I could listen to this song many many times and not grow tired, it is refreshing.

?Trust?, invigorating. He starts with a simple chord progression and creates a beautifully constructed arrangement. There is no overkill with the layering that is so common. Each sound in this song is in an exact place to convey the meaning. The ways he changes upon and enhances the bridge part shows he is extremely talented and knows when even one extra layer would be too much and can stop himself. Even though ?Trust? is not really a dance tune, it still had me moving in my seat.

Listening to ?City Beat? with my headphones on, I am loving the pan and fade effects used. I can hear the Robin Trower influences in this song. Ok, so this is another replay song! It is not easy to get on my replay list, but so far 2 out of 5 songs are on this list!

From ?City Beat? to ?Red Paint?, a song about a night on the town, is like going from the excitement of the city to actually arriving and having your fun times. This is a faster paced song which keeps you going as you enjoy your sojourn through town.

There is nothing sweeter than a song written for the birth of one?s own child. In his other songs you can hear Deep Purple, Pink Floyd, etc. In this piece, it reminds me of David Arkenstone and Gary Stadler. ?Lullaby? is precisely as the name states. After a night on the town, one needs to relax and unwind before sleepy time. This is the song. A beautiful arrangement, one his child will be proud to know was written for them.

Let?s continue into your dreams with ?Dreamscape?. The ebb and flow goes on. The many different shades in this song are varied. Deep and subtle on lower ranges , light and sparkly on the upper ranges. This is a great meditation piece. It is not your slow boring meditation type song. This will touch each of your seven chakras and reenergize them and relax them. It is like a massage for your soul.

?Sunshine? is a light hearted song. Another excellent song that makes you feel great once you have heard it.

What a great tribute to your brother-in-law! ?Believe? has more of the new age rock in it. I really enjoy this song. Shadows of Deep Purple, The Who, and Robin Trower appear, yet Hob remains true to his own sound.

?Gliding? is a smooth easy going tune. I can sit back and imagine myself gliding around some moonbeams looking for a star to land on. Again, less is more. He did not overuse effects--he is quite wise when it comes to that. For that I thank him!

The final song of the CD is ?Action at a Distance?. He combines the best of those who have influenced him from his past into one song. Let?s see, how many can you pick out? I hear many Rock and New Age influences myself. Another masterful creation, bringing past and present together. Let us hope this is a sign of the future in that we can expect much more awesome and inspiring songs!

I love the way Hob has both created and constructed this Action at a Distance CD. Melodically entrancing, spiritually energizing, and mentally meditative. The order of songs on a CD can be just as important as the individual songs. If Hob had rearranged the song order, it would not have had the same effect.

Ea - Pagan Radio Network

?Action at a Distance? by The Hobliminal Ibloid
Sound - Music Reviews
Written by Beth "Witchskate" Kelley
The Hobliminal Ibloid, the name itself is intriguing. At first, I thought of Hobstweedle--traces of Robert Plant?s beginnings. The meaning of Hob?s name is quite interesting in its own origins, in that, there is a meaning yet there is not. I was looking forward to doing this review just on the name alone. I think I like Hob already.

Not knowing quite what to expect, I dove right in. The first song is called ?Expectation?. The filter sweep used at the beginning draws you right into the song. This is a relaxing yet uplifting song. The 80?s influence is easily recognizable. While his influences were the Cocteau Twins and Simple Minds, this is evident in his works.

?Good Friends? is another example of not knowing what to expect, except that you expect it to sound as good as the first song. It does not disappoint. The songs flow from one to another like a river flowing into different little individual streams.

When I saw electronic, I was a bit worried. A lot of musicians tend to over use all the little bells and whistles which are available on today?s keyboards. Hob does not. He has carefully thought about the placement of each note, phrase, and beat. It is complex, yet simple. The layering of each of the sounds is perfection in the making. His use of effects also is not overpowering .

One of the more beautiful songs on the CD is ?Lost and Found?. It has a dreamy quality that lets you drift away. It feels like your spirit is flying overtop of mountains and out to the sea with a freedom not known in our mundane earthly bodies. There is a lightness to this song which kept me in the moment. This is one song which I kept hitting replay. I could listen to this song many many times and not grow tired, it is refreshing.

?Trust?, invigorating. He starts with a simple chord progression and creates a beautifully constructed arrangement. There is no overkill with the layering that is so common. Each sound in this song is in an exact place to convey the meaning. The ways he changes upon and enhances the bridge part shows he is extremely talented and knows when even one extra layer would be too much and can stop himself. Even though ?Trust? is not really a dance tune, it still had me moving in my seat.

Listening to ?City Beat? with my headphones on, I am loving the pan and fade effects used. I can hear the Robin Trower influences in this song. Ok, so this is another replay song! It is not easy to get on my replay list, but so far 2 out of 5 songs are on this list!

From ?City Beat? to ?Red Paint?, a song about a night on the town, is like going from the excitement of the city to actually arriving and having your fun times. This is a faster paced song which keeps you going as you enjoy your sojourn through town.

There is nothing sweeter than a song written for the birth of one?s own child. In his other songs you can hear Deep Purple, Pink Floyd, etc. In this piece, it reminds me of David Arkenstone and Gary Stadler. ?Lullaby? is precisely as the name states. After a night on the town, one needs to relax and unwind before sleepy time. This is the song. A beautiful arrangement, one his child will be proud to know was written for them.

Let?s continue into your dreams with ?Dreamscape?. The ebb and flow goes on. The many different shades in this song are varied. Deep and subtle on lower ranges , light and sparkly on the upper ranges. This is a great meditation piece. It is not your slow boring meditation type song. This will touch each of your seven chakras and reenergize them and relax them. It is like a massage for your soul.

?Sunshine? is a light hearted song. Another excellent song that makes you feel great once you have heard it.

What a great tribute to your brother-in-law! ?Believe? has more of the new age rock in it. I really enjoy this song. Shadows of Deep Purple, The Who, and Robin Trower appear, yet Hob remains true to his own sound.

?Gliding? is a smooth easy going tune. I can sit back and imagine myself gliding around some moonbeams looking for a star to land on. Again, less is more. He did not overuse effects--he is quite wise when it comes to that. For that I thank him!

The final song of the CD is ?Action at a Distance?. He combines the best of those who have influenced him from his past into one song. Let?s see, how many can you pick out? I hear many Rock and New Age influences myself. Another masterful creation, bringing past and present together. Let us hope this is a sign of the future in that we can expect much more awesome and inspiring songs!

I love the way Hob has both created and constructed this Action at a Distance CD. Melodically entrancing, spiritually energizing, and mentally meditative. The order of songs on a CD can be just as important as the individual songs. If Hob had rearranged the song order, it would not have had the same effect.

Ea - Pagan Radio Network

Paul Dowding composes, performs, programs, records and produces all his own music. He started when he played bass in rock bands in the US and UK. Upon moving to the US, his keen business mind launched him into a corporate career. However, he kept things going musically with a band called the Hemlocks. When the group dissolved he started exploring digital composing which has brought him to where he is today.



Who were your biggest musical inspirations?

I have always been drawn to atmospheric and instrumental music. I have eclectic and UK biased (as I was born there) tastes. I appreciate stand-alone musicianship and melody. I also appreciate that no-one should or would ever want to hear me sing. Through the timing and geography of my adolescence and young adulthood, the UK’s post-punk, new-wave sound and possibilities of the 80's is fairly dominant in my influences. The most significant influence is Simple Minds. Unfortunately they are best known for “Don’t’ You Forget About Me” from the Breakfast Club movie, but are still recording, touring and have a wonderful, experimentally-driven, evolving catalogue of 15 albums to draw from. The Cocteau Twins would be a close second. From the Electronic side: Jean Michel Jarre, Vangelis and Hans Zimmer. From a hard, progressive rock side: Deep Purple, Pink Floyd and It Bites. From a funk & and particularly bass guitar playing basis it is Mark King and Level 42 (although I would never to pretend to be anywhere near that good). I could add U2 as well but that would be too obvious, so I won’t.

Define your music.

Bloody brilliant, 80's-influenced Atmospheric, Electronic, Rock Instrumentals. However, I have been told I have a biased opinion. I have no shame (or embarrassment) in using “80's” big synth sounds in my work. Just for the record’s sake, I only became a Duran Duran fan after the “Notorious” album and John Taylor, the bassist, is an underappreciated, competent and prolific independent artist. Only with experience, did I later realize that the producers Trevor Horn, Brian Eno and Daniel Lanois were great influences in my immediate and peripheral musical experiences. I only mentions these gods of the mixing desk in the vain hope that you might unjustifiably and mistakenly mention my music in the same sentence with any of them as I am so blatantly doing so here.

Where did the name Hobliminal Ibloid come from?

A rather secluded but attention-seeking part of my cerebral cortex, I believe. My first band was a heavy, progressive rock instrumental band called Mordor. As we evolved and started including some songs and humor in our performances (we also started wearing silly clothes on stage), the dark and foreboding name just didn’t fit anymore. Unfortunately, as we all had different tastes, influences, abilities to hold civil debates, shocking personal habits in the case of one individual and opinions, which, while it helped with a diverse musical set, there was no suggested name that all of us liked, all of the time. This was usually because of the differences in the implied meaning. In frustration, I compiled a list of meaningless names and combined two of them to make “Oogie and The Bantras featuring The Hobliminal Ibloid”. Much to my surprise, the band loved it! When I started recording my own music, I picked the latter as my alter ego. Note: As an homage to my past, in my video for “City Beat” the characters attend a concert of “Oogie & The Bantras”.

Tell me about your cds?

Well there’s actually only one, technically. Over the years, in the development of my musical style and abilities (primarily the latter), I have released several EP’s. Most of these songs or the re-recorded or re-mixed versions of them ended up on my official, debut CD. It was released in 2009and titled “Action at a Distance”. It has twelve instrumental tracks on it that cover the spectrum of styles and sounds that represent my work. The title track was actually a re-worked instrumental track that I wrote back in my “Oogie” days. We never did a demo of it and I only had a rough recording of a live concert version, so I always wanted to record it properly. Apart from the final artwork by the replication service Oasis CD, for which I provided the conceptual ideas, I did everything else myself. I wrote, programmed, performed, produced, made cups of tea, mixed, laughed, cried, went to the bathroom after the third cup of tea and mastered for all the tracks all on my own. So as well as being a concept album of my musical and personal journey and how my past and music affected my future, it was a pretty exhausting journey in and of itself.

What do you want listeners to get from your music?

The irresistible urge to go buy it and recommend to several hundred of their friends to go do the same. Apart from that, I hope that it resonates with them on some emotional and visual level. All my music is inspired by someone or something, so my goal i - Skope Magazine

Forget what you’ve forgotten about the genre “electronica.” It is a broad and sweeping genre and the label itself rarely tells a listener anything about the nature of an album, save that at least some of the music will be generated “electronically.” On it’s face, electronica is as representative of the mysterious “clicks and clanks” of Portishead as it is the fever pitch tempos of a Chemical Brothers album. Action At A Distance is neither of these, but then it got me thinking… “What else could you possibly call this?” So, I suppose this is representative as well.

The foundation of Action is indeed its synth-driven cacophony of sound. But eschewing contemporary electronic outfits, Hobliminal Ibloid is more Jan Hammer than the frantic key pounding of say, The Crystal Method. Melodic at times and anthemic at others, the album progresses from track to track with a high degree of purpose and polish. Opening track “Expectation” features multilayered synthesizer and electric guitar interplay over ubiquitous drum machine. And while the “notes” provided by such machines usually sound too crisp and polished to be misconstrued as a “real” set, it matches the pristine guitar notes and synth progressions. “City Beat” features an up-tempo beat with twin synth lines laid over it— one moody; the other fleeting in almost guitar solo fashion. This could easily be a track from a Sound Tribe Sector 9 album. “Believe” opens to effects-laden guitar and intermittent, chimey backing keys. While this is definitely a “guitar” tune, the support lies with the channels of keyboard underneath, tying the track into a sort of paean you’d hear during the closing credits of an action movie (if that movie were something circa early 90s).

If your were to take a mash-up of 80s New Wave, the Fresh Aire series by Mannheim Steamroller and Harold Faltermeyer; you have Hobliminal Ibloid. And while there is a certain “Jen e sais quoi” about the album as a whole, there is without a doubt purpose, production and musicianship abounding here. It is eclectic, a bit retro and quirky at times but for a DIY-made album if there is any amateurishness about it, it is a very diggable amateurishness.

By: Chris West – cwest@skopemagazine.com
- Skope Magazine

Forget what you’ve forgotten about the genre “electronica.” It is a broad and sweeping genre and the label itself rarely tells a listener anything about the nature of an album, save that at least some of the music will be generated “electronically.” On it’s face, electronica is as representative of the mysterious “clicks and clanks” of Portishead as it is the fever pitch tempos of a Chemical Brothers album. Action At A Distance is neither of these, but then it got me thinking… “What else could you possibly call this?” So, I suppose this is representative as well.

The foundation of Action is indeed its synth-driven cacophony of sound. But eschewing contemporary electronic outfits, Hobliminal Ibloid is more Jan Hammer than the frantic key pounding of say, The Crystal Method. Melodic at times and anthemic at others, the album progresses from track to track with a high degree of purpose and polish. Opening track “Expectation” features multilayered synthesizer and electric guitar interplay over ubiquitous drum machine. And while the “notes” provided by such machines usually sound too crisp and polished to be misconstrued as a “real” set, it matches the pristine guitar notes and synth progressions. “City Beat” features an up-tempo beat with twin synth lines laid over it— one moody; the other fleeting in almost guitar solo fashion. This could easily be a track from a Sound Tribe Sector 9 album. “Believe” opens to effects-laden guitar and intermittent, chimey backing keys. While this is definitely a “guitar” tune, the support lies with the channels of keyboard underneath, tying the track into a sort of paean you’d hear during the closing credits of an action movie (if that movie were something circa early 90s).

If your were to take a mash-up of 80s New Wave, the Fresh Aire series by Mannheim Steamroller and Harold Faltermeyer; you have Hobliminal Ibloid. And while there is a certain “Jen e sais quoi” about the album as a whole, there is without a doubt purpose, production and musicianship abounding here. It is eclectic, a bit retro and quirky at times but for a DIY-made album if there is any amateurishness about it, it is a very diggable amateurishness.

By: Chris West – cwest@skopemagazine.com
- Skope Magazine