Synth drenched melodies, piano and various digital squabbles drip with melancholic mood-swings, however, it’s Machinations‘ focus on pensive and often thought provoking themes that ignite delicate explosions of sound.
Atra Aeterna is the guise of (Canadian) Zack Mitchell and Machinations represents his latest body of work composed of buoyant capsules crumbling and unfolding in cinematic formation. While each track doesn’t venture too far over the three-minute mark — sort of an enigma when it comes to ambient/drone — Atra Aeterna shears all notions of formula and delivers subtle percussive shards (skip to “Black Fog” as a prime example). Synth drenched melodies, piano and various digital squabbles drip with melancholic mood-swings, however, it’s Machinations‘ focus on pensive and often thought provoking themes that ignite delicate explosions of sound. “The Shadowlands” does just that with its serene piano chords and atmospheric backdrop of alienating debris. A broad stroke of industrialism manifests itself on “Lumière” as time freezes over its tangled wiring. “Monolithium” decomposes into miniscule chemical elements as this felt covered lullaby breaks away into an abyss. Atra Aeterna’s signature of post-ambient darkness sheds light on static swarms of beauty causing Machinations to detail sonic pictures that would easily merit a large theater setting.
Machinations is available via atraaeterna.com.
