'Perceive' is the first I've heard from Chesterhill, Ohio experimental sound artist Leslie Keffer, whose oeuvre goes all the way back to 2003, and her 'Dielectric Lull' album made on a mixer using 5 walkmans with effects and vocals by Leslie. Never got a chance to hear that one, but 'Perceive' is surely different, comprised of 4 tracks in 35 minutes; short for an album but long for an EP so album it is. While primarily drone-based, the compositions on this album range from dark ambient noise to ethereal ambience, which is pretty much the gamut in extremes.

Title track ("Perceive") begins ominously with some rumble over drone, but it doesn't take long for the noise to creep in like some invasive species decimating crops of sound. This track has most of what noise enthusiast love - an enveloping package of squalling noise, disturbing electronic sounds, harrowing drones and something uncanny I just can't put my finger on. If they could record the sound of a black hole, this just might be it! "Quake" is much calmer by far, but also far more creepy. It has an intriguing rhythm track that combines a patch of low noise with low thumps and a snaking slithering rattle over medium tone drone. The overall effect is both ritualistic and cinematic. It does not much change throughout the piece, just enough to hint at movement. This is actually my favorite track on the album.

"Summon" is like visiting some alien aviary or menagerie, although there are more bird sounds than other creatures, but who knows? Light drones and electronics also play along with the illusory creatures in a manner that would make Beaver & Krause smile. Finally we have "Tremble," a slow-beat track that recall's '90s ambient experimentation, with synth drones and synth voices, reminiscent of some projects I remember hearing on San Francisco's Silent Records label. It has a calming, nearly somnambulistic effect. Although I haven't heard much of her other compositions, I think 'Perceive' could serve as a great introduction to the soundscape world of Leslie Keffer, and I will keep an ear out for her in the future.