This dream not a night-‘Mare’

Julian Lynch’s “Mare” is a collection of scenes from a dream. As an artwork, “Mare” isn’t exactly minimalist — but it is patient and low-key.

Lynch, an ethnomusicology student at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, mixes genres to create a patchwork album with touches of familiarity while maintaining originality.

Recommending one particular song on the album would be equivalent to reading a random chapter out of a novel. Any snippet of “Mare” will hint at what Lynch is up to; however, his musical verbiage is best realized by listening and listening again.

The quality of the recording is fuzzy and distant, evoking a nostalgic, even surreal musical landscape. Patient listeners cannot fail to appreciate the slow, delicate builds and light implementation. The ambience, though, won’t thrill everyone.

Waiting for Lynch to completely open up can be trying, but the overall sentiments are worth the time they take. “Mare” is interesting and provoking — vague, yet intimate.