V/A :: Shade Rather Than Light Anthology Three Mix (See Blue Audio)

All in all, the experience this mix offers is, indeed, really immersive. It’s a smooth ride all the way through, with certain standout moments and enough variety to keep itself engaging at all times.

A lengthy exploration of ambient music

When I hear the words DJ mix, I’m ready to get my blood pumping: exhilarating, sometimes two hour long continuous mixes of pure, hardcore, intense, tight and transcendental EDM, as close as it gets to a clubbing experience on record, all conveniently on your phone, in your room lit up by cheap Amazon LED strips. Doesn’t get much better than that at home, does it? Well, See Blue Audio is not about that life, as the Anthology Three Mix is a lengthy exploration of ambient music.

Truth be told, ambient DJ mixes are not that common, as it’s true that EDM is very much suited for prolonged sessions to maintain its momentum—can’t the same thing be applied to atmospheres, though? A DJ mix like this showcases really well how much ambient music benefits from something that amplifies its immersive qualities, in this case being a track that is constantly moving and shifting.

I’m often a big fan of ambient records that manage to keep their world well alive, and by that I mean the usual soundscape this type of music creates, the one that pulls you out of where you’re currently at because it is so well designed. It is, in a sense, world design, not like the structural world design you may have in a video game, but managing to keep a sound palette coherent enough where different tracks still all fit into the same idea is very difficult, if you want to picture an actual atmosphere that can sustain itself and can be representative of a world of its own. At the same time, that’s what makes some of my favorite ambient records my favorite ambient records, because I do sure love to fully dive into the sound those albums create. All of this just to go back to this mix right here, and to say that this quality of cohesiveness is much more easily achievable by having continuity, as that way it is impossible to pull out of the atmosphere you’re being set in. Then again, I wonder why ambient mixes are rather uncommon, if they’re more predisposed to sucking in the listener by nature—or maybe it’s all just my impression or preference.

 

Plenty of different soundscapes ::

The See Blue Audio Anthology Three Mix happens to navigate through plenty of different soundscapes, but it never shifts, it always transitions into the next one. Despite the vast differences that there are between the first and last portions, and even between those and all that lies in the middle, the record is always captivating because it is able to keep a smooth flow. The sound palette also isn’t completely eclectic, similarities between timbres and even in the structure of some of the pieces help this album still feel cohesive.

That does not mean that there aren’t any standouts, for sure, because even though you may want to feel a really deep atmosphere, you also want it to be memorable. For example, the opening segment is rather odd; you get various tracks playing together, overlapping one another, in a way that is in between chaotic and coherent, because the sound of all these tracks is rather similar, all being pretty slick and futuristic, but the way they interlock rhythmically is pretty much independent—they do not interlock, really. It’s almost messy, as I said, but it does create that initial air of mystery you’d want from an ambient record.

Another standout is surely the frenzy of breaks that comes a bit further down the line, where the track starts building ominously. You’re introduced to a thumping bassline first, which, despite its really fast galloping that seems pulled out of a post-punk song, is still fitted as a heftier component for a menacing ambient tune. However, a drum and bass groove bursts, and at that moment it becomes clear that the somewhat eerie nature of that bassline was, in fact, meant to build up to something a bit more substantial. The way the bass helps the track progress is great, because it’s still fitting with what came before it, but also very much apt for what’s coming along with it, marking my favorite point of the entire mix.

 

Atmospheric part keeps turning ::

After said point, you get one of the more atmospheric parts of the record, focused a lot more on spacious pads and ambience instead of some distinctive components like in the two bits I just talked about. Around forty minutes in the mix builds back up from this atmospheric segment by bringing in a glitchy melodic line, which is very slow and careful with how it introduces itself, making a really smooth way to bring things back into a more focused part of the piece. This atmospheric part keeps turning, constantly adding in even just subtle new touches, but they help in keeping it fresh. Especially sweet are the sweeps that sleet in around the 57 minute mark, they have a really nice cold timbre that’s also really smooth.

After this lengthy atmospheric portion, strings get introduced, for a tepid finale. It’s surely a pleasant way to end off the mix, even if it’s the part that leaves the least of an impression on me, but I can’t deny it helps maintain the soft atmosphere that precedes it. Truly closing off the piece is actually a reprise of earlier parts of the mix, going back to a really futuristic and strongly electronic driven segment, which emphasizes these cute melodies greatly and brings everything to a close.

Track two, which may seem insignificant in size in comparison to its big brother, is still worth listening, as it offers a rhythmic approach that rarely pops up in the first piece. It still gets outshined, as it doesn’t have as much impact as a track that’s over twenty times longer, but it is a worthy addition.

All in all, the experience this mix offers is, indeed, really immersive. It’s a smooth ride all the way through, with certain standout moments and enough variety to keep itself engaging at all times. Though I do find the atmospheric parts to be a bit redundant in the long run, they contribute to making the album as immersive as it is, and they’re also what allows the meatier parts of the record to be as significant as they are, in contrast. If you want to embark on a nice journey, the entrance for the ride is right there on Bandcamp.

See Blue Audio Anthology Three Mix is available on See Blue Audio. [Bandcamp]