Monika Pich - Slowmotion

 Released: June 27

Slowmotion is a rather apt name for this album as there is certainly nothing on here that conveys speed. But it’s not really a languid piece of sound either as it is full of strange bits of sound that carry a certain momentum to the compositions. I think what is particularly interesting about the listening experience are these perceived pauses in the two long form compositions. It’s almost like the start of a new track but not quite as it brings in a new motif without really letting your mind break away completely from the previous one. In just the first seven or eight minutes of the second half, the atmosphere shifts multiple times and goes from arpeggiated basses that pulse in the darkness to errant brass instruments that squeal out into dark and empty space. The first half is not different in the fact that that it shifts around, though the manner in which it does is a bit different.

The first half of the experience comes across as a bit calmer, perhaps a little more reserved in the way it shifts from section to section. The transitions feel a bit slower with more of a ramp up or down to the next motif. Generally, this first part felt much more atmospheric and gentle, giving much more ambient vibes than its counterpart. Although, there is a section in which we get strange voice that almost has a game show announcer vibe to it that carried a bit of energy along with the slightly racing synths for a few minutes. I found this part to be a little out of place in context, but still a very amusing and interesting choice.

The second half comes across as more energetic but the atmospheres are uncomfortable and perplexing. I love the use of the weird arpeggio basses here though as they give off 303-ish sounds that infuse a weird energy in to it. Things do slow back down towards the end of this almost half-hour segment but those kind of squawk-y bass tones reoccur even in the slower times. There’s also some horns or something similar in there that are a bit all over the place to just add a bit more weirdness into everything. It’s overall a pretty interesting listening experience with a surprising amount going on. The sound choices make it weird and the constant transitioning keeps it lively. I’d recommend listening to it all at once if you have the time, but if not, Monika was kind enough to give you some excerpts so you can get something of an abbreviated experience.