Nils Quak - Elegy for Seaweed

Nils Quak will be known to many a reader as an experimental noise artist with a particular sensitivity to intimately observed sound structures. Deploying a focused but wide ranging set of tones, sounds and recordings into measured sequences, Quak approaches his work with pensive thought. Phrases are intelligently placed, patterns emerge from abyssal environments, it seems nothing escapes his view.

Elegy for Seaweed sees the artist bearing his telescopic gaze on the floating ambient component of his sound, leaving out (for the most part at least) the layers of static, and noise we've become accustom to in past works. Even the track titles hint at this intent; Staring at Sunlight, Skies over Saturn, Darkened Skies - suggesting Quak has found himself preoccupied with lighter temperaments, slowly shifting lighter-than-air textures and the endless source of inspiration which is the sky above us.

The first three tracks explore these very ideas, encapsulating light within fold after fold of ambient layers, essentially drenching the listener in sound. Statue of Light reaches it's ending with a tentatively wavering oscilloscope tone fading into what sounds like a recording of waves lapping the shore. Breaking the mold, Birds in Motion scorches across the sky with discordant drones - if only for two minutes. By contrast, Touching the Bees rests back into the album's established milieu. Weighing in at nearly 18 minutes, the track possesses an air of suspense. It's notes have a church organ grandness and tone to them, which reach into every dark corner they can find, the low end of their frequencies creating gentle bass shudders. Quak allows the sound to almost completely fade away, before bringing it back - a beautifully executed effect which makes for moments of incandescent euphoria. In its final moments the piece widens to a panoramic landscape of field recordings, chimes and higher end tones - a wonderful centrepiece for the album. Equally welcome is the [again] organ-like quality of the short yet very sweet melody of Darkening Skies, I could easily listen to more of it.

Elegy for Seaweed is the first release for Portland, Oregan label Clothbound Recordings on two 3"Cdrs in a handmade cloth-bound book which includes accompanying poems by Quak.

www.clothbound.net
nhlsqaik.com/
soundcloud.com/nq_nhlsqaik
nqmusic.bandcamp.com