Zachary Utz has played with many a band (Dope Body, Scroll Downers, etc.), and he's had a side world of abstract electronic music. On this new solo set, he stays in the electronic realm, but he swaps out loops for assembly.

Zachary Utz direct deposit (self-released)

Which is a bit funny, because there are a few loop elements here. But much more is a slowly simmering soup of not-quite random thoughts that streak through the sound. Still very abstract, but with a lot more distinct lines.

Utz keeps the overall feel kinda lo-fi and shoegazey. These pieces don't really begin and end so much as simply inhabit a continuous space. I'm not saying this is a continuous work. Rather, each piece feels like it has been lifted from a much longer thought. More than a little unsettling.

I think Utz is fine with that. These are pieces intended to engage and even provoke the listener. Yeah, they're kinda mellow in the uptake, but dig down a little and there's a lot going on. There's so much here in such a short amount of time.

Jon Worley