Review Summary: Two ambient powerhouses join forces to create one of this year's most compelling releases.
3 of 3 thought this review was well written
Tim Hecker and Daniel Lopatin are a match made in ambient/drone music heaven. As the first in a series of collaborative works from the Brooklyn based label Software, the album sees two of the ambient and drone music scene’s biggest artists together making something quite special. With both Hecker and Lopatin garnering much deserved praise last year (with Ravedeath, 1972 and Oneotrix Point Never’s Replica, respectively), big things were expected out of this newly established union. Fortunately, the album does not disappoint in the least, and goes above and beyond expectations.
Similar to the delicious concoction created by combining peanut butter and chocolate, Hecker and Lopatin fully complement each other’s sound wonderfully. Unlike many collaborations that either see one artist dominating most of the sound or end up being a creative mess due to the clashing of different minds, the duo manages to attain perfect harmony, unlike the underwhelming synth pop found on Lopatin’s last collaboration with Joel Ford. While both artists’ creative fingerprints are easily identifiable individually, they mesh in such a way that the end product becomes something much more. Lush pads fill endless voids of droning soundscapes, and echo around hollowed depths of darkness. Tracks like “Vaccinations for Thomas Mann” and “Scenes from a French Zoo” establish the flowing waves of sound both artists are known for. Along with both Lopatin’s and Hecker’s knack for deep and full ambient tones is their shared love for pure sonic distortion; loops and samples are torn apart, tortured with agonizing distrortion, and completely obliterated, while Lopatin’s expertise in the realm of sample manipulation also comes in to play*quite excellently throughout the album, especially demonstrated on the dual “GRM Blue” tracks.*
While the album is primarily satisfying and on mark, it dwindles in quality at points mostly due to either poorly executed ideas that ultimately fall flat and the instances when the tracks unfortunately become too aimless and meandering. These gripes, however, are few and far between, as the album is on point throughout most of its fifty-four minute running time. Both artists play to their individual strengths and in turn challenge the other to combine their individual styles to create something quite remarkable. The soundscapes the duo establishes can truly ferry the listener to**explore vast sunken caverns and bottomless trenches embedded with torrid magma. While the album does not stand up to the duo’s individual accomplishments in creating some of the greatest ambient releases of the past five years, it does remain wholly satisfying, and it’s sure to be incredibly enjoyable to any fan of the genre. The combined forces of Hecker and Lopatin are truly a force to be reckoned with, and hopefully the duo continues to collaborate in the future.*
While the album is primarily satisfying and on mark, it dwindles in quality at points mostly due to either poorly executed ideas that ultimately fall flat and the instances when the tracks unfortunately become too aimless and meandering.
GRM Blue II is the perfect example of this. Doesn't go anywhere (I like it though). The whole album is pretty crazy. I like how they blend Hecker's glitchy atmospheres with Lopatin's nostalgic synth drones. Lovely, simple and quick to the point review, Dyl. :]
Sweet review, man! I'm sorry I didn't respond to you about this review until now. This reminded me.
There are some stellar descriptions in here. "Lush pads fill endless voids of droning soundscapes, and echo around hollowed depths of darkness." This kinda stuff. I love these moments, and your biographical perspective in the beginning is done very well.
There are a few instances where your review could be improved by omitting a few words. Like "two of the ambient and drone music scene’s biggest artists together making something quite special" - I'd take out the quite. And I think you use the word 'quite' a few more times in here, it never being exactly necessary.
Also, I think your second paragraph would be stronger if you took out this line. "Similar to the delicious concoction created by combining peanut butter and chocolate,"
These are things I've had multiple issues with in the past, and I still do sometimes. You're a really good writer, and you need to write more! I'll always be happy to give you constructive criticism on these things.
