As a reviewer, every now and then you get sent a release that doesn’ leave your stereo. Somehow it’s as if the record was written for you. For me, I remember is one of those records. Bvdub’ stunning release on the excellent Glacial Movements catalogue is nothing short of beauty, a transfixing cloud of textures and drones which ensnare and engulf you. Now that my fanboy gush is out of the way, down to business…
Opening with the 16 minute “This Place Has Only Known Sadness’, the mood and pace are instantly set. Gently folding waves of synth clouds roll with soft vocals, creating an ethereal mood. A guitar surfaces, sparsely picking out a desolate motif. Pulses of noise pop and hum, as the noise builds into an amazing cathedral of sound. Eventually, low end drones ominously close in, ushering the track out to an epic conclusion. “We Said Forever’ has rolling echoes of guitar notes seep in, as steadily strummed chords are buried by heavy processing. This builds in texture, as the track before, until, from nowhere, a synth bass announces itself with a ducking and rising progression. A kick drum appears from nowhere, and suddenly without realising, we’ve been shifted into ambient electro territory. Vocal pads chime in, and things start sounding akin to The Sight Below’ brand of ambient shoegaze electro. The piece gently winds down and we move to “The Promise (Reprise)’, which slowly grows in texture and layers, building and building before steadily retreating once more. Each piece here works in the same fashion: expanding until it has completely surrounded you and swept you away, and then gently releases you, setting you back down softly and safely. “Would It Be The Same’ opens, suprisingly, with a piano playing a haunting refrain. Synth textures eventually grow over the top before and almost IDM glitch beat surprises all, casually getting louder as if everyone expected it to be there. Massive rolls of drone drown it out eventually, and wash everything away. “There Was Nothing But Beauty in My Heart’s sees acoustic guitar picking until static dust, with gliding vocals floating across the top, while closer “A Taste Of Your Own Medicine’ advances from the silence with one purpose: make you forget everything else you’ve heard, to drown it all, wash it off, and finish clean. Mission accomplished.
I tried really hard not to rave about everything here. I’ll honestly say that i love everything about this release: the sound, the artwork, and the label it’s on. There’ nothing more to say at this point other than get it. Now. Essential listening.
Nick Giles
