Scotland’s Dave Fyans releases music under two monikers, Daigoro and Erstlaub. As with a couple of other producers such as Tigrics from the Highpoint Lowlife stable he concentrates on atmospheric drone, a drone that is fully realised and fleshed out on his release On Becoming An Island. Having previously released several works as Daigoro on The Marcia Blaine School For Girls compilation Some Paths Lead Back Again, here Fyans turns his hand to an extended piece.
Though the title track is the only composition on this release, at over forty three minutes, it certainly feels as if there is a natural progression within it. After a languid five minute introduction, Fyans segues into a gentle drone fused with delicate plucking in the background. Far from being just the one style throughout, the composition lapses from mood to mood and shifts textures as easily as it does sounds. This is perhaps surprising given that the piece was performed on a Nord G2 without any extra elements or processing afterwards. Then again, it demonstrates the proficiency (and dedication) that Fyans has with the instrument.
At times the journey is incredibly solitary, with nothing but an extended mid-range drone for company. The payoff, then, comes in parts, as the tiniest fragments of warmer moments towards the start begin to creep back and the progression towards the conclusion begins to take momentum. With four minutes remaining, there’ an eerie, almost chugging hum that recalls an exhaust pipe coughing away. It continues right until the last moments, tapping into sounds that echo distant helicopters flitting about. When it ends, it’s almost difficult to cope with the silence that’s left. The void that was once filled with menacing ambience is now empty, and with it, the sounds of the world outside are left to take its place.
Alexandra Savvides
