There is a constant stream of new and alluring sounds that approach and vanish during the course of the record, each of which is so crisp and clear that the tapestry as a whole can be seen for each individual thread that composes it.
Swedish duo Ecovillage recently released One Step Above, their third album, through Nature Bliss. Ecovillage themselves say of One Step Above that it has a “more minimal approach than ever, using just few layers of piano and beats, and much less vocals and psychedelic feelings than [our] previous albums.”
While I agree that the album is minimal in many respects, I hear a great deal of variety and depth within it. It’s so much more than piano and beats. There is a constant stream of new and alluring sounds that approach and vanish during the course of the record, each of which is so crisp and clear that the tapestry as a whole can be seen for each individual thread that composes it. There is a quality to the record that has me turning the volume up louder and louder so that I can perceive every nuance, hear every tiny chirp and chime, and feel it as it delicately falls into place in the fabric of the music. There are some sections with excellent vocals, some with funky guitars, many upon many with gorgeously-layered synths that build a deep, sonorous base around which a stream of natural and unnatural sounds dance and play. There are diminutive, quiet sounds that quest out delicately under the washing currents, and caress the ear gently for just a second or two before disappearing completely. These are my favorite elements of the album. The attention and care used to construct these fleeting moments is made evident by their brilliance, subtlety, and emotion. It’s really wonderful, to hear a wide, beautiful drone, with new sounds melting away as quickly as they appear.
One Step Above also has its moments of groove, like on “You Got Me,” the opening track on the record. Much of the music falls into the ambient category, but it’s always refreshing to see a group move so smoothly and effortlessly between musical sensibilities. In addition, there’s a remix of “You Got Me” by Markus Guentner that absolutely kills halfway through the album. It’s fantastic, totally different from the original, and an equally enjoyable tune. Very often, ambient records have a sense of melancholy about them, which Ecovillage has completely avoided with One Step Above. Much of the album feels like early morning on a beautiful day, and listing to it always has me itching to go outside and soak up the sun. This album should be listened to on a really good pair of headphones, and make sure to turn the volume way up.
One Step Above is available on Nature Bliss.
