In this regard, bvdub always has the uncanny ability of drawing the infinite from within endlessly outward into the material world around us and beyond. Drowning in Daylight is an immersive and fluid record, if your attention drifts from it for but a second you may suddenly find yourself swimming in a different part of its ocean.
Drowning in Daylight, the 31st album release by bvdub (aka Brock Van Wey), is a shining moment in his output to date and quite possibly his best yet. Following a personally familiar album structure made up of a shorter sequence, but containing tracks longer in length than conventional recordings (around twenty epic minutes apiece), the 2xLP is lush, impressionable, and a prime example of how bvdub is an absolute master of abstract ambient catharsis. An expansion of his signature sound, it’s apparent that this album came from the heart and possesses experimental payoff. A creative highlight includes the buried/understated TB-303 vibe in the album’s closer, “You and Me, Forever Reaching” eventually enveloped around 8:38.
Each track is full of emotional nuance, a well-balanced mix of ever-present atmosphere occasionally featuring focused deep techno percussion, interplaying vocals, and subliminal melodies. While these attributes are common across bvdub’s past work, as heard on “A Step in the Dark,” “I’ll Only Break Your Heart,” “A Careful Ecstasy,” “Serenity,” and in general can be regarded as a noted characteristic of his style throughout the years, it is Drowning in Daylight above all where his implementation of such is the most matured. This is evidenced through his control. The crisp hats, beats and vocal elements that introduce themselves are restrained by comparison to earlier compositions; purposeful and complementary, they take the lead where appropriate without overdoing it or ever excluding the expansive space in the background (listen to 6:47-10:10 in the opening track).
There is also a frequent return to ethereal beat-less beauty. As each track progresses they naturally fall back into cascading pockets of air. At times subtle distanced piano makes an appearance contributing to these celestial moments. The second half of the track titles themselves point to their boundless qualities, “Never Ending, Never Ceasing, Forever Sweeping, Forever Reaching.”
In this regard, bvdub always has the uncanny ability of drawing the infinite from within endlessly outward into the material world around us and beyond. Drowning in Daylight is an immersive and fluid record, if your attention drifts from it for but a second you may suddenly find yourself swimming in a different part of its ocean.
Drowning in Daylight is available on Apollo.
