astonishment #1

This marks the second collaboration between pianist Merle Louise and ambient/drone artist rsn. But whilst their debut, “clarity #1”, was a wonderfully unconventional ambient work, “astonishment #1” takes a much more experimental approach. The piano and bass setup has been expanded to include synths, loop tapes, noise boxes and effects pedals for the piano. The bass swells and drones typical of rsn recede into the background, creating sonic space. The five tracks still feature piano motifs, as heard on “clarity #1”, but the sounds are distorted, appearing rather fragmented here or repetitive there. Underlying these are drone synths, rustling tape loops and varied sounds, creating a rather surreal sonic journey rather than the soothing, cotton-soft one found on “clarity #1”. There are undoubtedly moments of immersion, yet one is gently pulled out of them time and again, for a spirit of experimentation reigns here. Thus, “astonishment #1” is more of an adventure than a relaxation.

-----

On their second collaborative album on attenuation circuit, rsn and Merle Louise combine a drone-based approach with lush melancholic chords, charting out an imaginary soundscape between Berlin School cosmic kraut and Eliane Radigue, as it were.

With this release, Thomas Rosen aka rsn continues his series of collaborations with diverse artists, a long-term project mapping (and, more importantly, shifting) perceived boundaries between drone, ambient, and noise. An astonishing (pun on the album title intended!) versatility in combining, overlaying, and contrasting soft and harsh textures shows throughout the whole project. In the collaboration of Thomas Rosen and Merle Louise Spangenberg in particular, now in its second instalment on attenuation circuit, this new album marks a development that shows a commitment to trying new approaches and not repeating a formula.

File under: ambient