Apneic
Alexander Turnquist
| Available Formats | No. of Tracks | Price | Buy | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Download EP (mp3) | 3 tracks | £2.99 | ||
| Download EP (flac) | 3 tracks | £3.99 | ||
| Download individual tracks | N/A | from £0.75 |
Alexander Turnquist - Apneic
Sometimes I get the feeling that ambient artists just don't “get” winter. They wrap the season up with so much alienation and oppression that you'd think anyone that comes within a square mile of snow suddenly begins cursing the day they were born. Just because it is different doesn't mean it is abominable. Alexander Turnquist seems to understand the refreshing, crystalline beauty of the coldest season. His latest effort, Apneic, feels as fresh, cool, and relieving as that first breath of cool air that rushes into your lungs on a crisp winter evening. There's not much to frighten you here, no frigid, unending loneliness, just the unique sense of completeness that only winter can provide.
Turnquist's true appreciation for the beautiful side of the season of ice is manifested in three tracks of droning minimalism. “Idle Nightmare” kicks off the album with style, immediately lulling the listener with droning repetition right from the beginning. Somewhat reminiscent of thisquietarmy's “Drown,” rather than burying the listener, the track invigorates, and just before the drone completely covers the listener, a clean guitar comes in. The guitar allows for a smooth transition to the next set of glacial drones, “Electric Lines.” The massive track defines everything Turnquist does right – enrapturing drones, subtle, minimal ambiance, and most of all, a sense of vitality flowing from the cool, implacable tones. It's tracks like this that make people fall in love with minimal music.
The structure for the two beginning tracks is incredibly similar, however, even though “Electric Lines” is magnified far larger than its predecessor. The final track, “$130,” replaces the swelling clean guitar ending with a sample of an answering machine, but otherwise follows a similar structure to the tracks before it. While this does hurt the release somewhat, the whole comes off with a decided, eloquent flair that brushes aside any flaws. Winter doesn't alienate, rather, it revitalizes what is covers. Alexander Turnquist knows this well, and directly translates this elusive concept to Apneic. If you're going to be left out in the cold, at least enjoy yourself.
Tracklisting
Download EP (KD039DD)
- Alexander Turnquist - Idle Nightmare
- Alexander Turnquist - Electric Lines
- Alexander Turnquist - $130
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