Iker Garmendia & Matthew Nowik - ‘Tis A Fearful Thing

 Released: January 28

In what is ostensibly their first collaborative album, Iker Garmendia and Matthew Nowik utilize four track of multi-instrumental improvisation to explore the subject of thanatophobia - the fear of losing our loved ones. While you would expect a rather dark collection of music, it avoids this over-focus on morbidity in favor of something that is not exactly light but not a depressing slog either. Instead, there is strangely mystical quality to everything here, likely due to the combination of Iker’s penchant for odd folk instruments and Nowik’s propensity towards abstract noises built from the leftover sounds of the world. It comes across as atmospheric but also rather mythical at the same time as lyres, flutes, and other instruments play about over a canvas of found sound. 

Being only four tracks, there is quite a bit packed into each one with the title track being the longest of the pack. “‘Tis a fearful thing” moves quite slowly at first with that omnipresent flute working out elongated melodies and the static noises plus indecipherable voices bring in a sense of hazy memories slowly peeking out into view. Plucked stirring join in as the menagerie continues and the sounds turn into more of a wall at the halfway mark, nearly drowning out all else until retreating to the background once more. “To love what death can touch” carries on from where the previous left off, though on a somewhat darker note. The final track “Relief” brings a much more surreal vibe as it begins comparatively noisy but becomes pure atmosphere by the last few minutes as that every present flute returns to pour out soft notes. 

Given the subject matter, the approach is wonderful. It isn’t morose, possibly because this album is about the fear, not the actual loss. It is a fear that sticks with anyone who still has loved ones, one that likely won’t ever go away until the end. But the exploration of this on ‘Tis a Fearful Thing interesting, reflective, and sober of mind. Quite enjoyable and therapeutic.