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William Sanford released his latest ambient electronica album, Deep Mollusca, this Dec 17. Deep Mollusca caves into the ocean’s mysterious depths, with music sprawling through bass. The album is guided by a faceless protagonist encountering various creatures and landscapes from the Mollusca phylum. Let Sanford ride to the deepest parts of the sea with the mystical and gruelling adventures unfolding.
The first track, “The Pelagic Plunge,” submerges the audience into the aquatic soundscape, where plunging and splashing water sets the stage for a contemplative but glinting riffing textures. The synth’s slow, clean and steely edges create an ethereal atmosphere, enticing the listener. A robotic voiceover emerges towards the end, leaving us intrigued.
The seventh track, “Where Bathyal Became Twilight,” is strong with a narrative nuance. It unfolds with theatrical rhythmic string-like electronic textures, building a whimsical soundscape frolicking with enchanting keys. Collabing with Buggly and f-r-a-g-i-l-e, “The Blood Red Waters of the Photic Zone” is another groovy, pumping and beating song that charismatically and effortlessly flows like the continuous movement of water.
Deep Mollusca comes to an end with the fifteenth track, “Despite Gumboot’s Armor,” featuring A Beached Whale. Coming full circle, the song has waves receding and seagulls chirping at the beginning. The song evolves into a relaxing soundscape featuring immersive synths, beats, and glitzy pulses. As the longest track, it allows for a dynamic and evolving experience, capturing the essence of the marine world in a five-minute exploration.
Inspirations for Deep Mollusca include a diverse range of artists such as Shpongle, Tyler the Creator, SOPHIE, and Oneohtrix Point Never. The album draws inspiration from musical influences and the natural world, literature, and philosophy, showcasing the intellect and knowledge of the artist that surpasses his natural musical artistry.
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Review By: Naomi Joan