Mullaert and Reiter have concocted a beautiful genre-crossing sonic potion highly capable of stirring the mind and relaxing the muscles simultaneously.
Sweden’s Sebastian Mullaert is mainly known for his work with longtime co-conspirator Marcus Henriksson as Minilogue and Son Kite—two admired and influential acts in the trance scene—but his solo work as Ooze, on which he leaves the trance and techno constructions aside and focuses on eclectic forms of downtempo, electronica and dub, has also gained many avid followers over the years. Recently, under his new moniker, We Wu We, he released a self-titled mini LP which although closer in spirit and flow to the Minilogue album from last year, Blomma, driven more by a raw pulsating techno nature.
On Reflections of Nothingness Mullaert joins forces with Israeli producer Eitan Reiter, who is well known in the trance scene as well, mainly as half of the Loud duo. Reiter has also made a name for himself as a talented creator of mind-bending downtempo electronica with the release of his lovely solo debut album, Places I Miss That I Haven’t Been To (Aleph Zero, 2010). Mullaert and Reiter are adventurous spirits. They enjoy exploring new forms of creation and are avid explorers of musical equipment. Reflections of Nothingness was created in Mullaert’s forest-based studio somewhere in the north of Malmö via a peculiar creative process based mostly on improvisation, curiosity and passion. The two sonically kindred spirits have met during a festival in Mexico and “connected intensely and subsequently stayed in touch” as the press release states. At some point they decided to work on something together, and there was no better place than Mullaert’s pastoral studio for what they had in mind—letting the music create itself.
Zen Buddhism is well rooted in Mullaert’s music, as he practices it on a daily basis. The Zen elements are well felt in the Blomma experience and also in the depths of Reflections of Nothingness. Both albums were also created via a similar creative process, only in different studios. Zen is even there in the title of Mullaert and Reiter’s album. In a way, “There is Nothing” was sort of a guideline concept that accompanied Mullaert and Reiter during the making of the album, but the pastoral environment had a significant impact on them as well. “Their days been shaped by daily life and they took care of the children, cooked, practiced yoga, meditated and made long walks without words in the nearby forest. Absorbed by the sense of oneness with their daily existence they started to communicate in the studio to build an aimless intersection between the outer and the inner world.”
Mullaert and Reiter have concocted a beautiful genre-crossing sonic potion highly capable of stirring the mind and relaxing the muscles simultaneously. Each of the eight reflections is a little synth aficionado heaven largely made out of the charms of Roland TB303, TR808, SH101 and Juno 60. A Fender Rhodes spell spices almost all the reflections, adding more spaciousness and mystery. The journey begins with the aptly titled “enter the spiral”—a lush beatless acid ambient vortex spiraling its way into the nothing, pulling the listener into the boundless depths of the imagination. Then, “dissolve” stirs the way effortlessly to a different sonic path where restrained techno beat constructions, synth-generated extraterrestrial activity, ethereal drops of Fender Rhodes and processed voices, interact.
The journey continues with the cinematic drones of “water burns air” and the ritualistic vibes of “dance of roots.” Afterwards, a little crafty trance-infused techno affair emerges (“ash layla”—Hebrew for night moth). On the sixth track, “no escape,” trancey synth layers swirl hypnotically, displaying Pink Floyd-ish characteristics. Eclectic ambient shades float beautifully both on “you are the proof of heaven” and the more minimalistic yet not less effective “falling apart into one.” The journey ends with the long meditative voice-infused drone of “faith.”
Reflections of Nothingness rewards repeat visits and attentive listening, its subtleties and secrets are there in the depths, waiting to be revealed. Just like the adventurous Blomma, Reflections of Nothingness brings something new and fresh, in sound, style and spirit, into the electronic music world.
Reflections of Nothingness is out on Mule Musiq and available through Kompakt.
