This album feels like opening up a picture album of pleasant and nostalgic memories, infused with dust, a gauze effect giving everything a pleasant glow, even on the faded things of the past.
Getting lost in the flow
The past, present, and future form a spectrum, points along the bridge of time. In Past Present Future: Archive III from Derrick Stembridge those different points along the path all flow from one majestic moment to the next in a pure state of flow. The kind of flow state people get into when they are working on something immersive, exciting, meaningful. Listening, I soon become so absorbed in what I am hearing that time itself moves with great speed, but I don’t realize how another album worth of time has just passed. That is what listening to this collection of early works from the depths of Stembridge’s extensive archive is all about: getting lost in the flow.
It seems to have barely started before it is already over again, and this experience has happened with repeated listens. In other words, it’s a perfect set of songs to keep pulling me in without letting go until it’s over. That’s saying something when there is so much other music to surf over to and click on, an unrelenting stream that does not pause. For those addled with tech induced ADHD this is just the kind of thing to calm down the hyperactivity and refocus the attention. Speaking for myself, anyway.
Neo-classical and subtle indie shoegaze strains infuse the ambient and electronic warmth of these pieces. A quiet confidence is present throughout, but continues to build momentum and drama that is never grandiose, but is humble in its power. Gentle pads and guitar flickers undulate on “As We Walk.” Chords quiver and shine with expansive acoustic guitar strums on “Gone But Not Forgotten.” Slow piano mantras resonate on “Fall” which carries a heavy weight with minimal embellishment.
Listening eases the sometimes turbulent pace of life ::
This album feels like opening up a picture album of pleasant and nostalgic memories, infused with dust, a gauze effect giving everything a pleasant glow, even on the faded things of the past. “Great Divide” looks towards what’s to come with soft and propelling beats and more guitar work, a solid carrier tones holding down the primary signal. “Gravity” has a cathedral like reverb that casts the song in a sacred, iconic frame.
“Into the Unknown” has the most overt guitar lines, with heavier drums and distortion, but it works perfectly as this collection draws to a close. Two more sedated tracks follow allowing me to drift back out, a gentle transition from inner flow to whatever needs attending to in the world. But having listened, I’m better able to do what needs doing.
As Stephen King said, “Life isn’t a support system for art. It’s the other way around.” The music of Derrick Stembridge, and more broadly, the releases on his Labile label, are first-rate musical support systems. Listening eases the sometimes turbulent pace of life.
Past Present Future: Archive III is available on Labile. [Bandcamp]
