Amphior :: Disappearing (Glacial Movements)

Disappearing presents lonesome and meandering ambient pieces with a clear stylistic interest for tape loop techniques, blurred-out semi-classical sequences built on the reverbed piano and oxidation feeling from deteriorated-fractured acoustic instrumental signals.

Singular, nostalgic, cinematic soundscapes

Amphior is the pseudonym of Danish sound producer Mathias Hammerstrøm whose name is quite familiar for followers of Glacial Movements‘ first league in terms of deep isolationist and emotionally ambient music to be transported by. His first first album for the label was published in 2022 and was titled Another Presence. Amphior also published a handful of digital releases available on Bandcamp, always bringing to the fore singular, nostalgic, cinematic soundscapes for sustained synthesized waves and microtonal melodious phrases with a fancy for analog gears.

Disappearing presents lonesome and meandering ambient pieces with a clear stylistic interest for tape loop techniques, blurred-out semi-classical sequences built on the reverbed piano and oxidation feeling from deteriorated-fractured acoustic instrumental signals. The dreary and tempered melancholic passages offered by the body of processed acoustic timbres are morphed and bent in gentle clouds of reverbs and occasional glitchy effects.The result is moody with beautiful ghostly movements echoing in space—all this without being creepy or disturbing—the ensemble reveals a fragile, evanescent luminous vibe. All along the album the near spectral synthscapes beautifully interact with glitchy miniatures.

All in all a delicate, handsomely mysterious and journeying ambient tale in softly saddened tape loops projections. Chill enough to be enjoyable and of interest for those who like the cold paced electronic music of Ivory Trade, Mica Levi & Oliver Coates, Benoit Pioulard, The New Honey Shade, Marcus Fischer, Foam & Sand, and those who enjoy Basinski-esque intoxicating foggy dreamscapes even if Amphior proposes something which is a bit distant from gradually decaying instrumentation through repetition, in favor of synthetic atmospheres inclined to accessible and melodious sweet nostalgia with grains of tape damaged signals. I highly recommend the entire Glacial Movements music catalog to others, as each album offers a deep, spiritual immersion into sonic landscapes filled with rich layers of sounds and tones.

Disappearing is available on Glacial Movements. [Bandcamp]