Rhythmically flowing, these two slices of life, while a beatless foray through nostalgic soundscapes, is as blissful to the ears as any of his previous audio works.
Chilled to the touch and beautifully transparent
Suffolk born Londoner, Jon Michaelides’ Dalham project has registered high on our radar for a few years—his latest two-track manifesto (titled Fünf and subtitled The Past Is a Foreign Country) further emphasizes soothing delay and reverb. Rhythmically flowing, these two slices of life, while a beatless foray through nostalgic soundscapes, is as blissful to the ears as any of his previous audio works. And yet, as his signature fully forms, there’s a parallel that can be drawn between early Boards Of Canada as well as The Detroit Escalator Company reflections with current-era Crisopa and port-royal sonic hues. Wandering synths highlight the emotional charge of “Aether” as curiously unfolding moods transpire on “Atlas.” Each over 10 minutes a piece, swaths of shifting ambient lullabies sweep the landscape effortlessly. An abundance of musicality opens windows we didn’t know existed as Fünf traverses rhythm and gently gliding melodies—both tangible and surreal. Chilled to the touch and beautifully transparent, we have a noteworthy contender in our top releases of 2021.
Fünf: The Past Is a Foreign Country is available on Castles In Space. [Bandcamp]
