What I am hearing is perfect for exploring the interplay between the natural and synthetic, the light and haze, and the designed and the unexpected.
Exploring the interplay between the natural and synthetic
Spirits tell me things about the occult, and for a long time it was always things about alchemy. These things resonate with my personal sense of mythology. What I am hearing is perfect for exploring the interplay between the natural and synthetic, the light and haze, and the designed and the unexpected. I hear shimmering drones, experimental electronic ambient eternal house science fiction, all from these slowly emerging drones, slow and ambient, often dark electronic art. Now I have learned that sturgeon moon/beaver moon is the final part in a triptych whose development began in late 2021. The ride begins with cold moon/worm moon which kicks off the triptych, followed by pink moon/buck moon, with this one being the subject slab today, sturgeon moon/beaver moon dark and fresh and aromatic.
Background: Sturgeon Moon is in August and is an Algonquian tradition; Beaver moon is in November and has an alternative name of Frost Moon. Both are named after traditional harvest times for sturgeon and beavers. I have not yet heard the first two elements of the triptych, and I intend to.
There is a very slow entrance that continuously keeps building just under the surface. I know or guess that some of it could be the sound of a bass guitar being bumped, possibly in open tuning. I hear glowing drones midtones and low tones, “tiny flames” (8:50) are colorfully expressive, with lots of slow patterns and sparkly accents of various sorts, midway the pressure has reached full boil so that what was just under the surface has broken through somehow, then it simmers. Nothing terribly kinetic, no flying objects, just little moments going around and around. Very nice for ghosts and dreaming, both are some favorite topics.
A rich textured slowly undulating buzzing drone ::
Creeping in slowly from the darkness, a rich textured slowly undulating buzzing drone that grows wider and brings on harmonics. “lectreus ii” (7:25) employs the sounds of a string orchestra, building tension and always carefully adding new subtle rhythmic devices, bringing tension that is almost melodic. Well, it is melodic, but not like most melodies. Nice and slow, the last few moments bring a short haunting new melody then a quick end to the track. “on the wind” (9:17) features somewhat higher pitched string drones, curling and unwinding, buzzing and melding. while elements emerge and expand, weaving alternating breezes that might cause new harmonics to catch and then dissolve.
Listening forever, at one point the focus shifts to one tone, no more weaving, and the intensity grows. Sometimes the dream mixes the familiar with the bizarre, this one always takes place in a big dark cave, or so it seems at first. In the dark I am never sure. Eventually I guess it might be a bus station overnight, just the echoes, people rumbling and doors slam. The track that lingers in your ear long after the album has played is titled “dream # 2” (6:11), imagine whistling mists hiding a low drone choir, as the sounds progress, some tones fade while some notes expand and break up, there is some odd buzzing and vibrating. I read that some dreams change and go in new unexpected directions. This is one.
Recorded at Missing Studio, Vancouver, Washington on and between Sturgeon and Beaver moons 2022
Composition, field recording and sound design by R. Hunter
Mastered by James Plotkin at Plotkinworks
Layout & logo by Sjøli Design
Photography R. Hunter
Sturgeon Moon/Beaver Moon is available on Bandcamp.
