jacaszek, “treny”
It ain’t summer yet, at least in New York. Today, it’s not even very spring-like — although I suppose April showers are part of the deal. Point is, if you’ve got any glum residue left, any room in your psyche for a few more ruminative, mournful, moody, drippy musical moments, then I have the album you need to hear. For at least the next few days before it’s all reggaeton-from-jeeps and jumpy BBQ jams.
That record — this record — is called Treny. Polish producer Michael Jacaszek is the mastermind behind Treny, a record so distinguished amongst the ambient/neo-classical glut that Boomkat nearly passed out dishing out praise. There is an undeniable spookiness here, layered in and heavy like a weird mist of unnerving sound: sparse, creaking strings; ethereal, operatic vocals (deep and resonant, but not show-y); panning, submerged harp and piano; subtly glitched electronic shifts. These elements have appeared elsewhere, sure, but the construction (and delicate destruction) of the sound on Treny makes this one of the most affecting and beautiful records I’ve heard, of any genre.
This is way, way more dynamic than almost any ambient I’ve heard; it’s not weightless, idle music. Somehow Treny ends up being stark without being boring, beautiful without being cloying, “interesting” without being “difficult” (loaded, I know). It is also very, very hard to describe without either sounding, a) confusing; b) like a blowhard. (Can’t you tell?)
Before the rays come destroy our dour little party, check the album out here.
NOTE: The Miasmah label, which released Treny, has also given us a handful of other likeminded shroud-core (couldn’t resist!). So far, the Rafael Anton Irisarri album in particular has sounded very nice.
Good work people – been hoping Miasmah would show up here since we got Type a while ago. Talking of which, the new Svarte Greiner that was added recently on Type, ‘Kappe’ is another great example of ‘doombient’
Doombient! Love it.
parts of this remind me of the instrumental tracks off boom bip’s seed to sun. albeit slowed down and drugged out a bit. but i dig the glitchy neo-classical, that’s for sure.
Man, haven’t thought about Boom Bip in awhile! Certainly not “doombient” but I always liked his Lali Puna remix on this:
http://www.emusic.com/album/Lali-Puna-I-Thought-I-Was-Over-That-MP3-Download/10950828.html
That still ends up on an “On the Go” playlist here and there.
so, i’ve put my emusic account on hold for the past couple months and ran off to nepal. now on the eve of my return i decide to peruse this page and… miasmah! i’m so very happy about this. it’s like you guys were thinking about what i’d like as a coming home present! yes, Treny is lovely business, as is Jasper TX’s ‘black sleep’. to whom keeps a record: Jasper TX released a record on Lampse. called “I’ll be long gone before my light reaches you” which is one of the greatest records of the decade, bar none.