Greg Fenton reviews Joachim Spieth – Vestige – Affin
Talking about music, seeking to advance the cause of innovation, the idea culture should strive to invigorate and plough new paths. This latest album from the brilliant musician Joachim Spieth comes vividly to mind. Taking electronic dance sensibilities and fusing them with the ever-expanding notion that sound itself can be a language that speaks in a wealth of tongues, these compositions are fearless and inventive, while not losing sight of that most important attribute, communication.
From the darker depths inhabited by unwinding drones to higher, more exalted heights, the music is unafraid to stand on its own terms, embracing its unique mindset. Rhythm also plays a crucial role, with tracks like Remnant featuring intriguing percussive patterns as industrial sounds ignite the dancefloor. This is followed by the pounding beats of Trace amid the moody whirl and brutal intensity of haunting synths.
Tracks like Sonomorph provide an introspective, thought-provoking yet hopeful dive into states of bliss, while Iterate feels lighter and more revealing, like the opening of sunnier skies. Afterimage completes the album, playing with all its inherent concepts, featuring passionate drums, vast open spaces to dream with, and an amazing cascade of synthesisers whose purpose is to compel us to think and feel in the here and now.
Release: March 6
Download/Stream on Bandcamp
Joachim Spieth
Affin
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