Francis Gri :: Bruma (Self Released)

Francis Gri is the kind of sound artist whose work deserves to be discovered by a wider audience of ambient enthusiasts, seekers of tranquility, and those drawn to introspective, quiet moments at home. Much like an old friend, Bruma‘s music offers comfort and solace, gently accompanying you through times of grief and personal reflection.

A whole musical universe where evocative stillness is displayed

Owner of the label Krysalisound and trained musician in nostalgic form of semi-classical ambient music Francis Gri offers us one outstanding collection of precious-diaphanous, blurred out dream-like pieces, as suggested by the title of the album. Without being demonstrative but with simple, organic, and efficient articulation between timbres, tone colors and textures, Francis Gri paints a whole musical universe where evocative stillness is displayed thanks to a vast array micro-sounds, concrete manipulations, spoken words, detached echoing piano notes, and languid drone guitar chords seconded by other instruments. What characterizes his style is a taste for orchestral music with roots in fictional scores, could be indie cinema or simply environmental-historical documentaries with a poetical aura.

Sustained chords eerily fixated doubled by gritty noises and slumbering waves of electronics develop in an exquisite and soul-restoring balm. Glitch-esque altered piano sequences—as in the second piece “Bruma II”—will lead you in a lovely garden of broken or rusty layers engulfed in immemorial time. It’s difficult to pick up one favorite piece as these remain inwardly connected to each others. Pale timbres and intangible forms are harmoniously intertwined with touching melodies for a cloudy evanescent spiritual departure from our turbulent immediate reality.

If you enjoy Japanese-Zen ambient skeches from Yoshimura but also fragile modern-classical piano by Adrian Lane, Mike Lazarev, Tristan Eckerson, and Ben Lukas Boysen, you will easily be seduced by the cosy and minimalist sound paintings of Francis Gri. Francis Gri is the kind of sound artist whose work deserves to be discovered by a wider audience of ambient enthusiasts, seekers of tranquility, and those drawn to introspective, quiet moments at home. Much like an old friend, Bruma‘s music offers comfort and solace, gently accompanying you through times of grief and personal reflection.

Bruma is available on Bandcamp.