A magisterial totem of US avant-minimalism from one of the US industrial/noise scene’s earliest and most under-sung underground operators, Robert Turman’s 1981 classic ‘Flux’ has been given a new 2022 pressing, for the good of our health.

Robert Turman made his recorded debut on 1979’s ‘Mode Of Infection / Knife Ladder’ single, but within years he moved into much quieter yet expansive zones with his solo material. His self-released 1981 tape, ‘Flux’ is the seminal first example of Turman’s relatively drastic new direction, weaving kalimba, keys, a “Mini-Pops Jr.” drum machine, and tape loops, to create a gorgeous cat’s cradle of small sounds that absorb the listener with much subtler tactics and tactility than his previous work.

We could quite easily classify ‘Flux’ in that category of albums that always seem slippery and fuzzy to the memory due to the fact they tend to lull us into a sort of meditative state on every listen. Shy of any hypnic jerks, the thing flows with a steeply mesmerising sandman quality, coaxing mottled rhythmelody and shimmering harmonics from his set-up in a way that was far ahead of its time, but can’t help but seduce the senses to more atavistic, dreamlike states.

It’s the gnostic missing page that contextualizes the US noise/experimental scene’s occasional flirtation with dreamy guitar jams, futzed psychedelia,deep listening and hypnogogic tape loops, working like a diary or self portrait, revealing a personal journey marinated in emotion, texture and wonder, sitting a few paces outside the musical establishment’s buttoned-up critical perception.

It’s a quiet wonder and an acknowledged influence on everyone from Aaron Dilloway to Helm, with this new pressing you’ve got another chance to dip into one of the most unusual and mesmerising transmissions from a scene usually fizzing with more aggy energy, Stunning.