Acts Of Light

Following a pair of albums of delicate, eerie, and increasingly murky post-rock songs, Hilary Woods spent two years recording, producing, and mixing Acts of Light, a shift into drone-based composition that leaves song structure behind. Described as a fugue consisting of nine dirges, its a gloomy yet suspenseful work whose components include field recordings collected across northwest Spain, the west coast of Ireland, and Dublin; double bass, cello, and viola; synthesizer; electronics and undefined noise and sound manipulation; and voice, including the participation of two choirs (the Galway City Chamber Choir and the Palestrina Choir), depending on the track. The under-three-minute "Burial Rites" starts things off with a slowly expanding mass of low, narrowly melodic strings, drone, unidentifiable electronic tones, and what sounds like something between a demon-like exhale and a sustained sewer gust. A recording of a passing, piston-driven train is also discernible in the mix, but more important than identifying source material is its gradual motion and overall ominous quality. Its spooky mood, low pitch range, and engrossing, nuanced movement are on display throughout Acts of Light but with subtle adjustments, including the introduction of vocals -- chant -- on third track "Where the Bough Has Broken." That piece also has more tonal activity, with a unison swooping effect in the strings that has to cut through more and more shimmer and mechanical noise as it progresses. The albums title track is perhaps its most horror score-adjacent, with pulsing, tympani-like tones, amplifier-type buzzing, and more of those guttural sewer sighs all topped off by a haunting, mournful high alto line. Elsewhere, "Awakening" features a sound that evokes a possessed accordion, and "Blood Orange" vibrates like a spaceship. Its definitely music for dourer days, although theres also an alluring elegance in play that can make it feel more mysterious than dispiriting. Like a lot of compellingly constructed minimalist music, Acts of Light benefits from repeat listens. ~ Marcy Donelson

アイルランドのオルタナ・ロック・バンド、JJ72の元ベーシストによるサード・ソロ・アルバムは歌ものだった前作から過激に変貌を遂げた実験音楽とでも言うべき作品に。コントラバスの重厚な響きを軸にさまざまな音響効果や合唱団の歌声、フィールド・レコーディングも交え、荒涼な心象風景を残酷なまでに描き出している。微塵も妥協を許さない冷徹な姿勢に戦慄!
bounce (C)山口智男