Album Review
Carbon – Meander
I wonder if naming the opening track “everything” is either a scientific quip, as the album is called carbon, which as an element appears in (almost) everything in the world, or because the track seemingly has everything in it; Quiet bits, loud bits, fast bits, slow bits, sad bits, happy bits. It is an intense opener to the album, but in a positive way, it plunges the listener into Meanders world of sound. The whole album does seem like I am going embarking on a very strange journey, the more abrasive parts of songs like obstacles I need to cross, the softer parts like I am admiring the view.
Dream in reverse is the first stand out track, frantic drums and haunting synths create a feeling of ambiguity where the only emotion felt is fear. It is in longer pieces like this that Meander’s creative compositional side shines through; although a lot of the parts to the music, drums especially seem frenetic and random, they are not and they all tie together at some point. Use of unconventional notation definitely creates a sense of unease in the music, yet still fits, emphasising the skills clearly developed from classical training, just portrayed on a different platform.
The musical comparisons that first come to mind are Aphex Twin, Venetian Snares and similar artists from the electronic leftfield. However I believe Meander has created something different, something more approachable. Someone with a greater knowledge of electronic soundscapes would probably be more discerning and critical of Meander; however as a mere amateur to the genre I found it engaging, interesting and at times even mesmerising, as if I was an aural adventurer on a journey through unchartered sounds.