Fragile.Flicker.Fragment. is an affectionate tuneful application of instrumentation that gives way to plural watery textures of organic sound construction and mythological extract resulting in a calming electronic spectrum.
[Purchase] Composer Monty Adkins was educated at Pembroke College, Cambridge, United Kingdom, where he read music, specializing in French Medieval and Italian Renaissance music. After being introduced to the electronic genre, he later would become a member of the Birmingham electroacoustic sound theatre.
Fragile.Flicker.Fragment. rather accurately describes the content of this offering. It’s a dainty trinket box, ever so fragile, full of mysterious blends and fragments of organic surfaces that almost flicker. There’s integration of subtle field recordings, which add a realistic undercurrent alongside its dreamy aspect.
The whole album pretty much follows a similar theme throughout with perhaps one or two more diverse excursions further in. “Memory Box” being exactly typical. Filled with gentle chimes, light in approach, but with a penetrating depth of mystery and a pull towards the tracks increasing presence. Embraced by intermittent rustle, and dressed in that mysterious presence created by distinct wind chimes that chatter throughout. Metallic depth would be a common theme on this record and “Etched in Air” is no exception. Born out of its own creative path, it vibrates lovingly; a testament to the fresh approach of this release. Selectively searching with a display of moving imagery, vast, vibrant and dilated.
“Remnant” shows an underlying strength; it’s another watery mission that presents itself in a quiet before the storm sense, with deep penetrating bass lines that colour the track while enabling the higher pitches to illuminate quite successfully over its deeper, more expanding layers as it progresses. Plenty of overtones that compliment, and there’s an almost underwater feel midway, but it doesn’t stop there. With yet more watery timbres is “Suspended Edges,” a very brief experiment clocking in at just a minute, with unrestricted drive with plenty of mythological character. “First Snow” feels like a reflection of “Memory Box” with yet more extravagant chime offset against computerized bleeps.
“Ode” is a refreshing listen in that different qualities take hold here for the first time, generated by gypsy accordion styled sounds that introduce the excursion, governing throughout and successfully introducing the contrast the album needs at this point, with its wonderful dense fabric.
There’s a deep wave of bass that gives nothing away here – where “Forensic Embers” might lead is unclear, but its tone reaches deep to the intensity of existence – a regulated movement of little distraction.
Overall Fragile.Flicker.Fragment. is an affectionate tuneful application of instrumentation that gives way to plural watery textures of organic sound construction and mythological extract resulting in a calming electronic spectrum.
Fragile.Flicker.Fragment is out now on Audiobulb. [Purchase]
