Beautiful World

Reissue of this 2003 album from the acclaimed musician. Bassist and synthesist Patrick O'Hearn began his career backing up music wizard Frank Zappa in the 1970s before forming the new-wave band Missing Persons in the early '80s and later striking out on his own. on Beautiful World, Patrick paints a picture that embraces the dank, fecund undergrowth where life is formed. His music is textural, roiling with atmosphere, but not buried in it. Taking a cue from Erik Satie simplicity, O'Hearn employs melody sparingly, as if he's hoarding the last bottle of water in the Sahara. Which makes it all the more powerful when he finally deploys it creating the crescendo of the title track.