A very creative composer who isn’t afraid to delve into the strands of the past and present, threading surreal, evocative, and emotionally charged aural pathways that we will continue to revisit.
Incredibly moving sound segments
Fortresses, a multidisciplinary London-born artist residing in Portland, Oregon, is the ambient side project of Sam Ashton. Are is available on Yann Novak’s prestigious Dragon’s Eye Recordings, which has been releasing experimental and sound art music since 2005 with an emphasis on ambient, field recording, drone, electroacoustic, and acousmatic music. Title track “Are” and B-side “Our” comprise the two-piece suite, “the pieces themselves mirror one another to encourage comparison.”
These incredibly moving sound segments span twelve minutes, moving between serene field recordings and melancholic drones (“Are”). Meanwhile, “Our” keeps a more musical focus, its guitar components meticulously cultivated to inspire and transport us to easily recalled distant memories. “Our” seems more tangible and connected to the natural world, whereas “Are” feels like the soundtrack to familiar memories.
A very creative composer who isn’t afraid to delve into the strands of the past and present, threading surreal, evocative, and emotionally charged aural pathways that we will continue to revisit.
Are is available on Dragon’s Eye July 19, 2024. [Bandcamp | Site]
