Memories Of Something New

Hailing from Venezuela by way of Switzerland and taking his stage name from an almost-extinct indigenous language, Arutani brings an exotic, mystical feeling to his unique take on house and techno, which incorporates soothing, often-vaguely psychedelic synth work, laid-back, low-tempo grooves, and unusual samples. His music is an intriguing mix of the beautifully soothing and the creepily unsettling. Most of the tracks follow a similar pattern: a central, gentle, soothing melody surrounded by at least one other melody line that snakes in and out of it; muted percussion; mysterious cut-up vocal samples; the occasional experimental sound that pops up out of the blue -- all playing out at an unhurried tempo. Most tracks swell to a crescendo midway, then fade almost to nothing before theres a drop where everything kicks back in. The cover looks like a raw, uncut gemstone hidden away inside the rocks of a mountain, and is a perfect metaphor for the music on this album, as repeated listens uncover ever greater layers of detail. Enchanted opens with warm chords lapping at your ears, like gentle waves on a beach. Gradually, other elements are introduced: a slow, gentle melody, swelling chords, bass glissandos, and pattering, busy percussion. The effect makes the listener feel safely encased and cocooned yet surrounded by a hive of activity at the same time. On Flatliners, a more experimental track with clicking beats and grating synth stabs, cut-up and reversed vocal samples sound like something out of the Black Lodge. The title track is a particularly immersive highlight, as distorting blocks of synth threaten to overwhelm a ghostly, X-Files-esque refrain; on Before Its Too Late an ethereal, barely there melody floats over swelling, enveloping subs. When I Am with You is probably the best track here, with a warm bassline and a shuffling beat buoying up one of the albums sweetest, most spectral tunes; real heart-in-the-throat stuff. The closing Far Away layers haunting harmonies on a broken, vaguely martial beat. Theres much to love in this album. It should appeal strongly to deep house heads, and to the more casual fan of experimental yet accessible electronic music. ~ John D. Buchanan