Alan Graves - A Possible Wind

 Released: April 17

Lush synths and wide-spanning field recordings combine on this latest from Alan Graves to make for an immersive experience that feels abstract but grounded at the same time. There’s a rather varied range of expressions here, all of which retain a certain nostalgic vibe in their sound design choices. A fuzzy, retro type of quality hangs about in each composition, sometimes more prevalent than other times. “Dissipating Front” and “Atmospheric Drag” both have this exceptionally nostalgic feeling to both of them with the former having that cinematic feeling conveyed through arms and expansive pads while the latter takes a similar path with the addition of some thick and lush field recordings of what sound like strong building winds.

I think these two tracks are good indicators of the primary themes of the album. These themes trade off in their prevalence, such as in “Sauvie Haze” where the field recordings elements take a more central role in the track. Those hazy synth tones are certainly still there, adding in some rather deep and rumbling bass. But the track overall feels a bit more spacious than others and the sounds of honking birds starts the track off in rather chilled out fashion. “Inversion Lull” takes a similar approach but reduces the presence of the field recordings elements, instead giving plenty of space to the wide swells of ambient pads and a more small arp that starts subtle but slowly grows in it presence. 

A Possible Wind is a quite exquisite album, not because of any deep complexity. But because of the simplicity and delicateness of the sound design. Everything is airy, light, and dreamy. Much like sitting inside of a gentle fluffy cloud. I found the entire listening experience quite mellow but also invigorating. The lush synth work is beautiful and the field recordings give it this certain grounding, anchoring it more in the real world in a way that contrasts wonderfully with those hazy retro synths.