RedazioneThe Ascensión, the second album from the experimental electronic project Experiments & Observations on Electricity (EOE), is a captivating journey through the realms of drone, electronic music, and leftfield soundscapes. This album marks a significant evolution for EOE, following the release of the debut album An Overwhelming Sense of Sadness. It is a deeply personal exploration, born out of both moments of creative frustration and moments of artistic clarity.
From the very first track, “Movement 1,” listeners are greeted with the atmospheric and immersive sound that defines the album. The use of rhythmic loops and metallic, almost industrial sounds sets the tone for what is to come. According to the artist, the initial spark for the album came from a sample recorded in the stairwell of the UMG archives, with the unique metallic sounds of the stairs and the echoey environment forming the backbone of the album’s intricate loops. This sample, carefully edited and processed, is the catalyst for the unfolding sonic story that is The Ascensión.
The basslines in the album are subtle yet essential, acting as a deep foundation that anchors the music. They don’t overpower the mix but instead work in tandem with the drone textures and sweeping synths, creating an immersive, otherworldly atmosphere. The bass serves to give weight to the evolving rhythms, and its minimalism adds to the hypnotic nature of the music. Each track unfolds like a slow, deliberate exploration of sound, with the bass providing the structural elements that keep the pieces grounded.
The synth work on The Ascensión is nothing short of remarkable. It’s not just about melody but about texture, mood, and evolution. The synths evolve slowly, creating a sense of progression and transformation throughout the album. In “Movement 2” and “Movement 3,” the layers of synth become more pronounced, introducing a dream-like quality to the atmosphere. The sound is lush and expansive, creating an ethereal landscape that is as much about what is felt as what is heard. These gradual shifts in tone and texture are reminiscent of the works of artists like William Basinski and Brian Eno, whose influence can be traced in the reflective, meditative qualities of the music.
One of the most striking aspects of The Ascensión is its sense of space. The artist’s decision to base the album around a loop that gradually evolves over the course of the tracks creates a meditative, almost transcendent experience. As the album progresses, the loops subtly change, introducing new layers, shifting frequencies, and evolving rhythms. The music feels both organic and meticulously crafted, with each movement building upon the last in an almost ceremonial way.
The album’s evolution is mirrored in its structure. What initially began as a collection of six pieces slowly transformed into four, with each “Movement” representing a stage in the creative journey. The final result feels intentional and complete, as if each track has found its rightful place. The decision to reduce the number of movements was not merely a practical one, but a reflection of the artist’s newfound clarity. The Ascensión is a more focused and refined album than its predecessor, with a clear sense of direction that was, at times, elusive during its creation.
The production of The Ascensión is both meticulous and expansive. The artist’s use of studio techniques to manipulate the sounds, combined with the ambient textures and organic field recordings, creates an atmosphere that feels immersive and vast. There’s a sense of constant change, where each moment in the album feels different from the last, yet it’s all tied together by the same fundamental rhythmic loop.
In conclusion, The Ascensión is a masterful album that showcases not only the evolution of Experiments & Observations on Electricity as an artist but also the power of sound as a tool for emotional and artistic expression. It’s an album that invites listeners to lose themselves in its vast sonic landscapes, offering a unique and thought-provoking listening experience. This is an album that firmly establishes EOE as an artist to watch, and we are thrilled to host it on our webzine.
