Embers

Bristol-based mastermind Throwing Snow continues to excel in the realms of the experimental with his second studio album, Embers. The final product proves to have a unique substance, with its nonlinear form disrupting all elements of predictability through a wide range of arpeggios and intriguing cyclical patterns.

This entropic showcase sets the scene for an exciting electronic LP and a conceptually imaginative recording. Throwing Snow systematically collides sounds of the natural world with raw electronic synths in his attempts to bring his surroundings into each track. The recurring arpeggios reflect the semiotics behind the album beautifully; the concept of evolving life cycles from birth to death that are mirrored from the start to the end of each track.

The LP's ignition, 'Cantor’s Dust' Pt. 1 and Pt. 2, provide a deeply moving beginning. The first part seems to be the perfect introduction, with distorted, crackling sounds driving the track into a subliminal vortex, accompanied by manipulated piano notes, all created with a pair of synthesisers and a MIDI controller. Pt. 2 transitions gradually into a roaring bassline joined by tingly hi-hats and eerie groans.

'Cosms' is a fluctuating recording showing a combination of elements that morph in the most disjointed yet perfect fashion. The stimulus and laws of nature are evident throughout, while 'Ruins' applies no restrictions at all, leaving the listener to feel entirely emancipated. This versatile record proves that monotony doesn’t have to exist at all.

Georgia Smith