Bartholomew - Subterranea

A Closer Listen

Subterranea is a fun discovery, a mostly upbeat set that melds modern composition and electronics to produce a warm, cinematic vibe.  The album starts with organ tones, the beginning of a church service, but leaves no definitive clues as to where the album might head next.  And so it is a joy to hear a segment of trumpet early in “Terroir” before the beats set in, an early indication of Bartholomew‘s arsenal.  The jazz of “Terroir” gives way to the spaghetti western-tinged “Memorials,” which includes multiple brass elements but nary a hint of drums.  “Land Fracture” showcases wordless choir, breakbeats and a nearly industrial tone.  Reflecting the album title and cover art, the set explores subterranean layers; guest stars abound, helping to flesh out the composer’s vision. Just when one thinks they have the set figured out, “Riverbed” appears.  The album’s only vocal track channels Radiohead; the music soars, yet the singer fears he is wasting away.

The tone doesn’t stay split for long.  By “Worm Knitting” (which is not done with actual worms) the playfulness reappears, string patterns standing in for yarn.  The rapid-fire “Terrarium” showcases guest vibraphone, recalling the wonder of watching time lapse footage of growth through glass.  As the track slows and speeds and slows again, it suggests the strata of geologic time.  Using voice but no words, Bartholomew ends the short album with “Rooting,” as if finding his place in the world.

The artist’s theatrical background is no surprise, as the music pulses with drama.  Described as “a meditation on instability and resilience,” the album challenges listeners to find common threads between disparate pieces.  While the instruments are in flux, the transitions, save for “Riverbed,” are smooth, and even that piece would make sense as the opening track of Side B; unfortunately, vinyl is not an option.  Subterranea digs down to find deeper levels, but eventually demonstrates that the same roots descend through them all, and that the tree of personality is nurtured by the sedimentary layers of a person’s life.  (Richard Allen)