Lemures make industrial field recordings. Far from these evoking some sort of pretty pastoral scene they are harsh unrelenting explorations into the dark underbelly of machines. Thanks to the intensity of the vision there is hardly any relief from these foreboding soundscapes. Aspects of it do focus on the natural when necessary but even these fleeting moments are relatively hopeless. By staying consistent throughout nearly the four expansive passages the listener is forced to confront the sounds that often escape attention. In a way it is a celebration of the ugly ambient noise that surrounds everyone. Only here it is amplified.
‘II’ grates at the ears with random effects that spin out of control. Digital processing is extremely strong on this particular track. For the first three minutes these noises are completely left alone. When an actual motor arrives to give the piece some context it is greatly appreciated even given the mechanical nature. ‘I’ takes an anxious approach to sound design with greatly unstable pieces flirting with outright chaos. Eventually the chaos does arrive at the very end in bitterly harsh angry static. ‘III’ offers a rare melodic glance. Surrounded by light ambient sounds it builds up into a large swell similar to that frequently used by Fennesz. Pleasantness fades away after a while revealing a positive maelstrom at the end.
‘VI’ ends the album off on a relatively mellow note. Though it is not outright beautiful there is something charm about its restrained mechanical hum. Unlike the previous tracks there is no sudden increase in volume or distortion. It simply chooses to fade out like the ambient noise the entire collection celebrates.
via Beach Sloth