How they manage to expertly juxtapose glassy tones with rich sub bass is quite a knack that not many carry off successfully, especially with actual melodies rather than the usual staccato arpeggios which can tire your ears quickly.
An album about the beauty of electronic music itself and inherent humanity
What an opening track on this new AOC album from Lee Norris and Michael Gainford, titled “Space Ain’t the Place.” Rather than a ramble into the unknown, this track finds two artists totally at home with their instruments. It’s an intricate analogue journey that’s more akin to the inner workings of the mind than exploratory adventures to wherever. It’s two artists at the top of their game. It’s also pretty much letting you know the template for the rest of the concept, too. This for me at least, seems to be opening up into an album about the beauty of electronic music itself and inherent humanity.
The second track (“Fukes”) seamlessly flows right off the top—albeit with a slightly different vibe, still maintaining that rich analogue sound that has a deeply human quality. This has a mellow glitchy vibe but sounds almost like nature at the same time. I could easily see myself sitting atop a hill enjoying the vista with this in the background. It has such a subtle, yet epic scale. The shift in dynamics after the bridge when the kick comes in takes you by surprise but in such a good way and all the while retaining that feeling of being surrounded by nature. No one does ambient IDM quite like AOC in my opinion. How they manage to expertly juxtapose glassy tones with rich sub bass is quite a knack that not many carry off successfully, especially with actual melodies rather than the usual staccato arpeggios which can tire your ears quickly.
How they manage to expertly juxtapose glassy tones with rich sub bass is quite a knack that not many carry off successfully.
“The Flow of Telepathy” starts off very ambient with subtle weirdness and an obscure vocal sample that works well, it’s a rather suspenseful piece that would work well in film. The distant sounds of nature give it an almost haunting quality that’s rich in visual content. Like a lot of AOC tracks, the build up is slow yet intense, it always feels just right and the arrangement on this piece is spot on. Another very intelligent piece of ambience. Their knowledge of space and dynamics is to be admired. They really know how to utilize it to its full potential. Thus creating a real visual theatre for the listener to envelop themselves in.
“Bass Camp” has an almost Tibetan quality to it and perhaps this is a play on the name ‘base camp‘ for the Himalayas (I could be wrong, and often am). However, for me it certainly has a faint ‘Eastern’ vibe that’s very hypnotic and trance inducing—much like gazing in awe at the Himalayas themselves. Again, my own interpretation. As a listener it’s my right and I’m sure others might find other influences, but that’s the great thing about music. It’s so personal. Again, the scale of this is epic and the use of space and dynamics is masterful. At this point, I will say job well done to the mastering engineer also as it’s obvious he understands the music too and has done a fantastic job on this.
Onto the title track now which has another beautifully serene ambient opening. Glassy analogue tones gently hovering over a warm sub bass creating a tense but engaging atmosphere slowly lull you into a track that opens up into increasingly intricate analogue weirdness that tickles the ears and compels you to listen intently. This is an ambient masterpiece, there’s no doubt about it. I absolutely love this track. “Slow You Fade” opens with a haunting affected melody that instantly brings feelings of nostalgia which is quickly followed by a Neo Ouija-esque minimalist beat that characterized the sound of IDM a few years back. It’s simply beautiful IDM, real IDM in my opinion and not the childish sort that diminished the genre. Another very beautiful piece of music that I could listen to again and again and again. Lee Norris has always had a great knack for creating beautifully minimalist melodies. It’s not an easy thing to do, but to do it consistently, again, is the sign of a master at work and someone who knows their machines inside out.
Data Space Bass is a genuine lesson in electronic music.
“Journey Home,” a fitting title for a closing track and this one opens with a happy, distorted vibe that conjures up images of summer as the beautiful synth tones cut through the mix perfectly. I love the sound of this track, I’m finding it hard to say anything meaningful other than the fact the main synth line is to die for. I absolutely love how it makes me feel. In comes the beat and off we go, my head is nodding away and we’re almost into Detroit territory now, truly fantastic. The scope of knowledge and ability these guys have is outstanding.
Data Space Bass is a genuine lesson in electronic music and I’m loving it. A very human and a very warm and pleasing ending to a genuinely fantastic album. I don’t pay much attention usually to ‘best of…‘ sites, magazines etc. However, if this album isn’t topping polls this year, there’s something wrong somewhere. A genuine classic.
Data Space Bass is available on Fantasy Enhancing. [Bandcamp]
