Beira - Scry

 

Released: October 25

In a strange twist, this latest album from Scottish artist Beira is actually something of a collaborative album. The idea began as taking samples from other artists on the same label and reworking them into her own creations that fit the larger theme of the album. That theme being one of celebration towards the occult, the spiritual, the divine, and the natural world with a specific nod towards practices related to Druidism and Wicca. With this in mind, it’s very easy to understand why the album sounds and feels the way that it does. 

The album traverses through quite a bit of different styles ranging from ambient to downtempo and even elements of dubstep and other offshoot varieties of electronic music. The slow burned that is “Call the Quarters” takes a wild yet still downbeat approach by putting less focus on the percussion (though it definitely serves its purpose) and heavy emphasis on the noisy but subdued bass line that chonks and wonks with wide oscillations and a heavy low end. It fits in rather neatly with the fairl heavy kick that punctuates it and its light melodics drifting in the ether. On the other end of the spectrum, there’s the haunting “Dianic Magic” that makes use of long reversed textures and a just barely perceptible melody, one that feels more atmospheric than anything but takes on a different role among the avant garde sounds that surround around it. 

While the album does come across as a bit short, it feels as though it perfectly captures what it is going for. A little unnerving but also very celebratory of nature. Even “Lugus” which starts out creepy with what feels like screams in the distance, conveys a sense of wonder if not also a bit of intensity. But the album as a whole is a fun trip into a surreal world ruled by the natural and the divine in a perfect balance.