Strangebird~Sounds - Minerals Form The Crust (Aubdiobulb) [Electronic Music]
- The Slow Music Movement
- 12 minutes ago
- 2 min read
*** This blog post first appeared in TSMM's February 9th Newsletter, where you can get all the tips (and more) first ***
Gregory Geerts aka Strangebird~Sounds is a producer from Antwerp in Belgium, with modular synthesis as his music’s engine and a fondness for floating field recordings from his rural and urban wanderings around his creations to ground the otherwise otherworldly sounds. He’s been making the world of ambient electronic music that bit weirder and more colourful for the last five years, and his new album is another ear and eye catching transmission.
Apparently “Minerals From the Crust” dives into the Earth’s layers to survey the still unexploited sonic jewels hidden beneath our feet, but the album sounds more intergalatic mining suited to me, although the tellurian sounds of nature might dispute that. Whatever, it’s not long before electronic gems are spotted close to the mine’s opening, their audible sparkle playfully duetting with our feathered friends. Next up some spiky beats and tones look for fresh fissures to prise open but by the track’s half way mark they’re exhausted, lose their edge and decide to float off to the break room.
“Calcite” adopts a steadier approach with looped refrains, sonic shimmers and the sounds of an old steam piston engine in the mix if I’m not mistaken, which I probably am. Next up “Celestine’s” playful but gently insistent tones suggests more urgent tunnelling is required, and “Fluorite” after its low gravity intro heeds the call, an uneasy sonic trickle cooling the drill bits, and an old motor fired up to push the cascading synths to greater intensity. The ride isn’t over yet as “Mesolite” takes an unhurried trip back down memory lane to classic yet still vibrant, twentieth century synth form. “Neptunite” then urges one last push before “Zeolite” opens the door to the surface bound lift and the welcome sight of the sun’s last rays.
Playlist Companion
Find Strangebird~Sounds in the Slow Ambient Playlist.