Browsing Tag

OST

Michael Livschitz mellifluously hammers home the tragedy of silent suffering with ‘When Broken Hearts Are Silent’

Posted on 11 March 2021

Between the title and the stabbing intensity of the piano progressions which mellifluously hammer home the tragedy in silent suffering, you can’t help but engage with the evocative potential within Munich’s Michael Livschitz’s latest score ‘When Broken Hearts Are Silent’.

Of all the things that have been lost and have been changed since the pandemic started, I consistently find myself mourning the fact we seem to be slipping into hesitancy to speak, hesitancy to be loud, artful and incredible, hesitancy to be who we were before in the wake of catastrophe and ennui.

When Broken Hearts Are Silent is not a sombre composition, by any means. It is explorative and poignantly reflective through the way it tugs on tender heartstrings, allowing the keys to say what words won’t let us express.

Any fans of Hans Zimmer, John Williams and Ennio Morricone will undoubtedly want to get acquainted with the cinematic presence which resides in Michael Livschitz’s sound.

When Broken Hearts Are Silent is now available to stream via Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Spielbone has released their neo-classic electronica aid to rumination ‘Les mérites du doute’

Posted on 2 February 2021

German-Ivorian composer, Spielbone, made their debut in 2018 with their minimalist neo-classic twist on ambient electronica, in 2020, he released his pacifyingly immersive album ‘Infinitesimal’ any fans of Nils Frahm or similar contemporaries are going to want to pay attention.

In a time when sanctity of any form is scarce, meditative soundscapes such as Les mérites du doute are worth their weight in aural gold. As Chamber strings draw across the keys, the ruminative soundscape pulls you in deeper into the sanguine essence. Spielbone’s ability to set synapses alight and make heartstrings feel taut will undoubtedly see him going far in 2021 and beyond.

You can hear the album for yourselves by heading over to Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

 

Zachary James & Rene Orth – Jabberwocky: A Harsh Electronica Sci-Fi Serenade

Posted on 14 January 2021

Electronica artists generally fall into two categories, the assimilators, and those who throw their authentic expression into their projects to create mind-blowing feats of indulgent insanity, ‘Jabberwocky’ from Zachary James’ 2020 album ‘Call Out’, definitely falls into the latter camp.

‘Jabberwocky’ is a theatrically enticing Sci-Fi laden hit which Zachary James created in collaboration with Rene Orth and Lewis Carroll. The progressive track runs through teasing melodic increments before crashing into tremulously bass-drenched Industrial electronica. It doesn’t matter which extreme the tempo is sitting at; you’ll be transfixed from start to finish in the mix which gives Jeff Wayne’s War of the Worlds a run for its money.

The multitalented artist’s experience as a Broadway actor discernibly fed into the monumental 7-minute visual single which becomes so much more than a soundscape as you embrace the chaos, imagination and cinematic style.

Jabberwocky is available to stream with the rest of the epic 25-tracker album via Spotify.

 

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Find the catharsis in Ric Santos quiescently evocative ambient electronica track ‘Drift’

Posted on 6 December 2020

NYC Electronic artist and producer, Ric Santos, set his own bar exceptionally high with ‘In the Lead Works with the Beast’ which we had the pleasure of reviewing last year, but once again, he’s blown us away with his profound ability to make electronic arrangements bleed pure emotion.

His latest cinematic score, ‘Drift’ is just one of the standout tracks to feature on their forthcoming EP which is due for release in January 2021. After hearing the quiescently evocative alchemy in Drift, it is safe to say that we’re already eager to hear the rest.

The experimentally ambient instrumental mix would be perfectly placed in an OST to aurally narrate fragility experienced in an aftermath. Whether that be an epic battle or an intense interpersonal upheaval. It’s the calm after the storm, a space to breathe, a time to dare to be optimistic, a soundscape to simply exist within; and a stunning one at that.

You can check out Drift via Spotify. Keep up to date with future releases via Instagram.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Dario Pagano has released his sacramentally captivating score ‘Roma Invicta’

Posted on 4 December 2020

Composer of classical, operatic and liturgical music, Dario Pagano, has released his cinematically ensnaring latest score ‘Roma Invicta (Battle)’, an evocatively tensile aural narrative of conflict, resilience and hope. It’s the perfect abstraction from your own emotion, something I’m sure many people presently need and will undoubtedly appreciate.

With a mix of antecedent sounds ranging from Gregorian chants to liturgical choral elements combined with the sheer intensity of the production, also deftly handled by Dario Pagano, the score instils a potent sense of hope as you’re served a sonorous reminder that the world is so much bigger and more sacrosanct than we view it to be on a daily basis.

Roma Invicta is available to stream via Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast.

 

Sonophonix drive us ‘Crazy In Love’ with their latest single

Posted on 5 October 2020
https://vimeo.com/461511090

Commencing with a beautiful, arpeggiated piano motif before being joined by the deep, sonorous swell of cello, ‘Crazy In Love’ is a beautiful, haunting piece, an instrumental duet of resonant, musical artistry and elegance that showcases the talents of two incredible musicians.

Pianist Deborah Robb and cellist Xue Yang Liu met while students at the Mannes School of Music at the New School in New York City.  While attending Mannes they performed chamber music together and were members of the Mannes American Composers Ensemble (MACE) under the direction of composer Lowell Liebermann.  Their Sonophonix duo merges their composing, arranging and improvisation skills, and ‘Crazy In Love’ is a perfect example of their art, allowing each performer the personal space to breathe whilst intertwining their individual contributions into something altogether greater, a delicate, mellow, composition of refinement and elegance that transcends the classical genre and becomes something altogether of its own.

Crazy In Love can be heard from the Sonophonix website.

Review by Alex Holmes

8udDha bl0od – L3<3lV:iVWh0m7h383ll70ll5;7h3F!n.:.l CUR<38.:.ll.:.?;G0.:5g.:.m8l!ngWi7h7h3 g0dD5:H3lR.:.i53R

Posted on 15 May 2020
https://soundcloud.com/william-orpen/l33l-v-4-wh0m-7h3-83ll-70ll5-7h3-fnl-cur38ll/s-2iTQYxoC2pU

While we’re used to beguiling doses of experimentalism when we delve into Alternative artist 8udDha bl0od’s tracks their recently released soundscape was chill-inducing.

If you could imagine the soundtrack to a Horror flick set in a Tibetan monastery, you’ll get a good idea of how their latest intensely atmospheric release L3<3lV:iVWh0m7h383ll70ll5;7h3F!n.:.l CUR<38.:.ll.:.?;G0.:5g.:.m8l!ngWi7h7h3 g0dD5:H3lR.:.i53R unfolds.

The effects used in release L3<3lV:iVWh0m7h383ll70ll5;7h3F!n.:.l CUR<38.:.ll.:.?;G0.:5g.:.m8l!ngWi7h7h3 g0dD5:H3lR.:.i53R would enamour David Lynch himself. 8udDha bl0od’s deft mastery over the art of spatial effects was palpable. From the opulent chiming of bells to what can only be described as akin to the sound of rusted chains being dragged across the floor, you’ll hear it all in this indulgently disconcerting piece.

You can experience L3<3lV:iVWh0m7h383ll70ll5;7h3F!n.:.l CUR<38.:.ll.:.?;G0.:5g.:.m8l!ngWi7h7h3 g0dD5:H3lR.:.i53R for yourselves by heading over to SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Kris Vango – These Walls Around My Heart: Glacially Chilling Experimental Electronica

Posted on 13 May 2020

These Walls Around My Heart is just one of the chillingly immersive tracks found on up and coming experimental Electronica artist and producer Kris Vango’s latest album Venus Ritus which dropped on April 28th.

With a prelude which wouldn’t be out of place in a Sci-Fi horror OST, you’re gripped from the start in the glacial yet beguilingly cinematic soundscape.

If you could imagine what it would sound like if Infected Mushroom started producing creepy atmospheric soundscapes, you’ll get an idea of the striking ingenuity which you’ll find in These Walls Around My Heart. After the outro, the haunting tones are left to reverberate around under your ribs affirming you’ve just ingested an overwhelmingly visceral track.

You can check out These Walls Around My Heart along with the rest of Kris Vango’s album for yourselves by heading over to SoundCloud now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Ryan Douglas Michelsen – Camaraderie: A Profoundly Evocative Neo-Classical Composition

Posted on 29 February 2020
https://soundcloud.com/ryanmichelsen/camaraderie

Strap on a pair of headphones and prepare yourselves to be consumed by Ryan Douglas Michelsen’s recently released orchestral composition “Camaraderie”.

The US-based songwriter and artist has demonstrated their ability to construct intensely emotive soundscapes in the past. Yet, Camaraderie stands as a testament to their virtuosic talent when it comes to making melodies bleed emotion.

With the unpredictable crescendos, expect tension to linger in the ethereally-composed instrumental Neo-Classical work. But with their distinctive improvisational style, the best way to understand Ryan Douglas Michelsen’s epically cinematic work is to indulge in it for yourself. It will probably be in a cinema near you before long. Until then, you can use your imagination to fill in the visual gaps by allowing the orchestral instrumentals to arrest your emotions through the long, tensile notes.

You can listen to Camaradereie for yourselves by heading over to SoundCloud now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

The ÆTHER – Instrumental: The Instrumental Album of the Year

Posted on 21 December 2019

The ÆTHER became one of the most unforgettable emerging artists of the year with the release of their single Alone which featured on their third album Ætherville. No matter how many times I listen to it, it still feels like I’ve had lead injected into my bloodstream.

Their latest 2-hour mammoth project “Instrumental” which consists of 32 tracks affirms that if anyone can be considered the Glenn Branca of our time, it’s The ÆTHER.

By sharing the same avant-garde composing style and the same tendency to experiment with volumes and tones it was never going to be an endurance test. From transcendentally light arrangements to piercingly sharp progressions, to droning guitars, each track swallows your conscious whole.

Rather than taking sole inspiration from other artists, The ÆTHER found inspiration in the work of filmmakers such as David Lynch and Duncan Jones. For the project, they used instrumentals used in their previously released self-produced albums. But with the absence of lyrics, there was no absence of expansive poignancy. The ÆTHER set out to create a new language by creating soundtracks to imaginary films, they more than succeeded. Listening to Instrumental almost feels like a collaborative experience. He’s laid out the explorative soundscapes with easily found aural passages. Then it’s up to find your own narrative.

Instrumental comes highly recommended to any fans of Thurston Moore’s latest extended-release “Spirit Counsel”. The ÆTHER may not currently share the same international acclaim as Moore. Yet his instrumental ability easily sits in parallel alongside their illimitable ingenuity.

You can listen to Instrumental along with their earlier releases on Spotify.

Keep up to date with new releases via Facebook.

Review by Amelia Vandergast