False Awakening
Labile, 2021
9/10
Drifting In Silence impressed me with 2019’s Away, and here Derrick Stembridge returns with more inventive instrumental song craft, where his post-rock, New Age and meditative sounds highlight themes of nature and dreams.
“Silent Patterns” starts the listen with plenty of atmosphere, where 6 minutes of soothing, dreamy musicianship unfolds with grace and warmth, and “Myth Of Memory” follows with the sounds of water before segueing into an ambience of cascading beauty.
In the middle, “Unknown Archetype” drones with mystery amid a darker approach with moody, subtle piano, while “The Shadow” cultivates a mesmerizing, sonically creative landscape of wonder and awe.
“Preconscious Mind” resides near the end and radiates a spiritual aspect of profound elegance, and “False Awakening” exits the listen in a haze of surreal, cinematic sounds that makes meticulous use of guitar.
A very interesting effort that brings field recordings into guitar, piano and synth layers, as Drifting In Silence, Stembridge’s post-ambient formula is as stunning as ever on this unimaginably detailed listen.
Travels well with: Heron- Sun Release; Wing Vilma- Spirit Practice