Suggesting an exploration of the interplay between geographic spaces and sound, the feeling is of wandering, both in physical and metaphysical senses. The atmosphere fully uses the glitchy modality, like the sound of an old movie, heard underwater, at night.
Ethereal textures and evolving atmospheres
Wondrous odd sounds in a dreamy pattern, where little squeaks or tones come and get transformed by the persistence and duration of the flickering shadows. Suggesting an exploration of the interplay between geographic spaces and sound, the feeling is of wandering, both in physical and metaphysical senses. The atmosphere fully uses the glitchy modality, like the sound of an old movie, heard underwater, at night.
“By employing parallel processing techniques, the album unlocks a sonic dimension where sounds coexist, intertwine, and create intricate patterns that reveal hidden depths. Each track is a testament to meticulous craftsmanship, as they skillfully manipulate and mold singular sound sources into vast soundscapes that envelop the listener.” This deliberate choice serves to further immerse the audience in the artist’s world, evoking emotions that range from introspection to contemplation, and ultimately inviting listeners to lose themselves in the ethereal textures and evolving atmospheres.
The ambulation comes to a rest with dreamy drone sustained tones, “Intro” (1:08) opens the frame with a study of sleepy fuzzy sonic images that linger and slowly evolve, they just hang there setting the stage and then fade out. “Awake” (10:42) slowly fades in, this has a more distinct sound of old pianos in poor light from a dusty distance, continuing the dreamy extended feeling which eventually breaks into a more energized intensity. Now things sometimes sound backwards, there could be a repeating sensation that is not specific. Everything is very slow and seems to fade out several times. Numbers can represent many things. Depending on whether the European or American date system is employed, the third track could be titled either March seventh or July third: “07_03” (1:45) I feel like I am under water, the sounds just hang there. They slowly fade. Now “Paths” (6:45) presents long drones that are dark but do not feel to me like being under water. Perhaps it is night and the clouds are illuminated by the moon, something huge is lingering. The fade is slow, the quiet takes over and time goes by. Now something is getting slowly larger in the dark, we constantly continue making progress, the steps are hidden. The fade out is even more slow this time.
The very slow fade-in marks the next point on this seemingly static inward journey, “Itinerary” (4:48) lingers and hums. The forms that materialize are soft and the slowness of the fade hides any details, this is a foggy hidden valley that contains no urgency. The fading is even slower. We might be stopped, I had to check.
A sense of ominous quiet takes over ::
“Northern” (2:24) eventually brings a higher pitched fog bank, perhaps we are ascending? Nothing happens that changes the overall floating dream sensation. Now a sense of ominous quiet takes over, the humming choral tones change and seem to be far above us. “Tears” (2:42) would imply a sadness, yet I am not disappointed by what I do not find. “Reveries” (5:01) starts off way down low but the sky soon shows a growing illumination. The lingering seems solid, the growth is very slow. Things are getting bigger up there. Then they all fade away.
The longest track, “Murmures” (12:00), fulfills the glitchy drone experience, rumbling and then rising, then fading back into the rumble tone. Rising again, purring and growling in the gentle dark, projecting an ashen balmy dulcet haze. The billowing and rippling are gradual, nothing moves very quickly through this entire de-ambulative experience. We come to a wavy ascension, rising into a swaying slow surge. That drifts along, now joined by a rippling sense of altitude, now fading once again. The soporific slow motion is comforting, dulling all urgency and agitation forever. Even the ascension bring an extended tranquility.
The bookend “Outro” (1:46) returns us from the long foggy passages, capping the sense of peace and slumber with a summary fade into the next world.
“Currently working and living in the South West of France, Emmanuel Hourquet, aka emho, is a multidisciplinary artist whose work is grounded in visual storytelling, raw and processed sonic textures, technology and imperfections.” ~Bandcamp
Deambulations is available on Sonic Dialogue. [Bandcamp]
