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| Photo by Faruk Canpolat |
Speedy J - Arp Δmp Chasm
From the soon-to-be-released album "Walkman", Dutch producer Speedy J takes grinding drones and ambient textures and smashes them together with aplomb on the darkly intriguing Arp Δmp Chasm. This track seems to be teeming with life, and beneath the harsh tones, lively elements and brightness attempt to shine through, though they are often suppressed by the serious ambitions. The album from which this song is taken sees Speedy J reclaim the album as an immersive antidote to attention-fragmented digital culture. Let this track pull you in and obliterate your brain rot.
Wesenyeleh Mebreku - The Old Times Came to My Mind (ትዝ አለኝ የጥንቱ)
Wesenyeleh Mebreku is an Ethiopian musician, educator, and preservationist whose lifelong work in teaching, conducting, and reimagining Ethiopian music has made him a vital figure in sustaining and evolving the country’s musical heritage. On his recent album, Resonance of Time, Mebreku transforms traditional folk songs and lullabies into warm, lo-fi electronic instrumentals. "The Old Times" is one cut from the collection that stands out for its roaming and playful melodies, its nostalgic Casiotone tones, and subtly gentle electronic percussion. The feeling produced by listening is like being softly led into a dreamland by an empathetic guide who will hold your hand and shield your eyes from any ugliness on the path, resulting in a childlike appreciation for life.
Loop Diary - Garden Plan
What does a garden sound like? And no, I'm not talking about the Seattle grunge-lords fronted by Chris Cornell. On "Garden Plan", NY artist Loop Diary merges found sounds or birds and moving foliage with minimal ambient compositions to emulate a garden in the auditory world. What transpires is a less New Age and more Modern Age piece that recalls Yoshimura's work in ambient worldbuilding, but that never searches for pleasentries, despite how easily it comes across it. Instead, it takes beauty from the natural world and asks questions. How can nature survive the environmental crisis? How do we as humans interact with the nature around us? While not explicit, the message in this instrumental music comes through with pensive electronic lines and searching drums that (not obviously) disrupt the peace once found in the calm tones. If you're a city dweller burnt out in your concrete jungle, getting these sounds in your ears may be the closest you can get to touching grass without actually having to do so.