Built over long soundscapes, noisy field recordings and hypnotizing harmonic clusters, Aqua Obscura completely takes over our attention, swimming on a magical journey that directly touches our inner consciousness.
A modern cinematic journey of occult ceremonies and otherworldly myths
Budapest-based keyboardist-producer Zságer Balázs, best known for his ground-breaking work with the electronic band Žagar, is venturing into uncharted territory with his debut solo album. Aqua Obscura an immersive ambient record, it draws inspiration from the mystical depths of water, exploring its significance within ancient mythology and folklore.
Taking root from Hungarian lore, Nordic legends, and even Pagan beliefs, where water often holds symbolic power, each track on the album transports the listener across mythical seas and enchanted lakes, blurring the lines between the real and the imagined. Collaborating with Dorina Takács (Дeva) on one of the album’s tracks, Balázs weaves a sonic tapestry that transcends time and space.
On Aqua Obscura, each track “serves as a vessel, guiding listeners through the seven seas and hazy forest lakes, where the boundaries between reality and imagination blur.” Some tracks, such as “Pagana Rito,” remind me of Raime, Demdike Stare, and Silent Servant. Less percussive but more textural, this music weaves a rich tapestry of classic analog synthesizers (like the ARP 2600) and the latest modular innovations, painting a modern cinematic journey of occult ceremonies and otherworldly myths.
An important figure in the Hungarian electronic scene, Zságer Balázs was namely inspired by “the mystical folklore and rituals surrounding water.” Built over long soundscapes, noisy field recordings and hypnotizing harmonic clusters, Aqua Obscura completely takes over our attention, swimming on a magical journey that directly touches our inner consciousness.
Aqua Obscura is available on Free Sequence. [Bandcamp]
