Aarktica

We Will Find The Light

Darla, 2022

9/10

Listen We Will Find The Light

The recording moniker of the guitarist and vocalist Jon DeRosa, as Aarktica the artist employs ambience and very meditative texturing for the sometimes darker folk presence of this very unique listen.

“Like Embers” starts the listen with a haze of warmth, as wordless vocals emits both beauty and mystery, where bowed strings meet a very mesmerizing version of post-rock, and “Can’t Say I’ve Missed You” follows with hypnotic guitar amid the dreamy, nearly shoegaze sensibilities of the soothing landscape.

In the middle, “Goodnight” is quite poetic, even emotive, in its folk friendly delivery that pays close attention to mood amid its eloquent lyricism, while “A Quiet Places” drones with a bit of ominousness to its highly creative gestures.

Making our way towards the end, the sublime grace of “Sirenita Bobinsana” emits Latin influences via its airy tone, captivating acoustic guitar and gentle singing, and the title track exits the listen with an ethereal, instrumental foundation of wonder and awe.

DeRosa takes help from the cellist/violist Henrik Meierkord, the keyboardist Charles Newman and vocalist Nicole LaLiberté, and together it makes for an absolutely original and absorbing listen in the area of post-everything, precise atmosphere and highly technical experimentalism.

Travels well with: Drifting In Silence- False Awakening; Heron- Sun Release