The vibrant tones and crispy drum tracks of the title track conclude a very solid record and one of the top downtempo, IDM releases of the year. Seemingly minimalistic in nature, a careful listen will reveal many dense sonic layers and technical compositions.
Three years removed from their last record on Morr Music, ISAN are back with their latest colorful blend of lighthearted electronic music titled Lamenting Machine. Music is math, as the saying goes, and the opening track “From A Hundred” showcases usage of odd time signatures, cycling rhythms, and melancholy synthetic blips. One may find themselves tapping their toe while counting beats, trying to distinguish just what the meter is. As you get lost in the hypnotic arpeggio’s of “Perlon,” the image of children on a playground playing with their toys comes to mind. “Ephermoptera” drifts along with a plucked melody that is stretched like rubber, speeding up and slowing down, then suddenly dissipating into pure bliss. The vibrant tones and crispy drum tracks of the title track conclude a very solid record and one of the top downtempo, IDM releases of the year. Seemingly minimalistic in nature, a careful listen will reveal many dense sonic layers and technical compositions. Gentle, angelic melodies and dense pulsing bass lines create a sense of wonder and imagination. Their ninth studio album doesn’t deviate too far from what the duo of Anthony Ryan and Robin Saville have produced in the past, but the song writing and composition surpasses many of their previous efforts. What can be said about Lamenting Machine is that it is unmistakably ISAN who have carved their own unique path for many years. Favorite track “Ichthyosaur.”
Lamenting Machine is available on Morr Music.
