mondoj

ambient

asmr, tribal ambient

november 22nd, 2021

Elevation

Zaumne (2021)

Out of curiousity one day, I was specifically looking for music that incorporated ASMR into its recording. Seemingly taking over the internet in the mid-2010s, ASMR focuses on the intimate capabilities of the human voice; smacking food, breaths, kisses - any dialogue or soft noise with a vaguely romantic or erotic undertone seemed to be all the rage in the genre's heyday.

Polish producer Zaumne seems to have always been fascinated with the concept of ASMR. Though his first release - 2016's Przezycia contains no such ASMR influence (perhaps save for a singular vocal sample which sounds quite gurgly and close), the influence of ASMR. His output, though largely taking notes from Techno and House music, would often skirt into the world of ASMR for further inspiration; soft, intimate vocalists line the samples of his music, and 4/4 beat aside maintain a mellowed out atmosphere thanks to them.

2019's Contact would contain the (as of now) final pretense of techno in Zaumne's catalogue - featuring multiple full ambient passages lined with intimate vocals which paved the way to come while letting go of the producer's last grip on consistent drums. Zaumne's second-to-latest release, 2021s Dreams of Teeth Falling Out cements the change further, only the second track has any kind of consistent drum pattern, the rest largely consisting of spaced-out synth pads and occasional melodic embellishments, lined with vocal samples taking a surprisingly melancholy and fearful turn from Zaumne's usual sampling sensibilities. And, where I showed up at the tail end of his present discography, is Elevation, released a mere 3 months after Dreams.

The drums make a return here, but different. The rhythms are far more spaced out and foreboding, and plenty tribal as well; they are befitting of the cover, which for most of my knowing of this album I interpreted as some kind of foreign earthy landscape. It felt as I were walking along the pink rock formations, blistering sun cooking my skin and wringing the sweat from me like a towel. Then, at the tail end of the first track, you hear it - salvation? A first vocal sample comes from the mist alongside the distant flowing of water, an aimless and vaguely human whisper; saying nothing in particular yet tantalizing you for what's to come.

Sadly, the album loses a lot of its magic at this point. Despite the reverbed percussion and increased presence of the ASMR vocals it feels far too loop-based and understandable; especially for the ominous atmosphere built up during the first track. Multiple percussion, pads and vocal samples run on loops for the album, but they never feel particularly reactive to each other and never more than the sum of their parts; they are merely there as various things next to each other rather than a coherent musical world. Perhaps the most clear example of what I mean is track 3; the melodic and vocal elements run on a slight lag to each other but everything is understandable and concrete enough that the intrigue is entirely taken away.

Despite the flack I seem to be giving this album, I do think there's potential here; merely unrealized. Zaumne seems to be dipping his feet in the ambient world, and the working-in of more acoustic and atmospheric samples seems to be a sign for the better. Elevation is enjoyable enough, but largely seems the skeleton for better music to come.

SCORE: 6.4/10