Deep Sea Navigating With “Oceanic Triangulation”
8.29.14 by Ian Franklin

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Ok, now here’s a real traveler. Sonic companion for The Journey. Super lush and mega-dense 4-way split over two tapes (C22 & C37) featuring Hakobune, Oliwa, Former Selves, and Panabrite titled “Oceanic Triangulation” out on the mapmaker of zones, Inner Islands. I just threw a lot of information at you, you can go back and read that last sentence again (I did). If you’re familiar with any of those names, and you should be, by the simple fact of their conglomeration here, you can guess what type of experience is in store across this hour’s worth of sonic landscape.

Jumping right into tape 1, side A is Hakobune, a Japanese ambient/drone artist with a lengthy back catalog of excellent work, with “Kakogawa”. Beginning with a slow moving cadence he builds a shimmering drone that sways ever so slightly. Dripping with reverb, but not overly cavernous, he introduces wave after wave of flowing notes that sustain and fall in a circular pattern, creating a wider web of evolving sound. Never settling on a specific point works very well here and the effect is the perfect beginning to set the mood of the overall split.

On the flip side of the first tape we find Buenos Aires based musician, Oliwa, with “After Night, Before Sunrise”. Radient synthesizer chords are presented with a heavy melodic drone undercurrent and just a splash of solo exploration. The soft pressure of night time is felt as the track slowly fades and pulses with a fiery ember. But sure as the sun rises, morning comes with deep and thunderous awakening. Rising from yesterday’s ashes is the pulsating rhythm of new life. Brilliant composition here on a simple joyous track.

Jumping off to tape 2, side A kicks it off with Former Selves’ “Triangulate Upon Paradise”. Former Selves’ track is like an ocean all to itself. Tranquil synth tones extend outward in all directions and float through everything. Plucked and drippy notes sprout up like islands in the glistening waves. New territories are discovered and sections blossom into beautiful open fields. But this place won’t hold you for very long and it’s time to venture back out on the search. Tentative and anxious are the tones now. Everything has a bit more bite to it. The wind stings your cheeks and warns you to turn back. But the only way is forward, and paradise beckons your arrival. Gorgeous spacing across this track; an incredible journey.

Panabrite’s “Digest of Botanicals” rounds off the last side, starting with a walk through the forest into a damp and drippy cave. Arpeggiated square waves emanate from the base and bounce off the cave walls, flashing and dancing in the shadows of a freshly made fire. All manner of wildlife bristles with activity just outside the entrance, their echoed calls venturing closer towards the warmth. Pots and pans clang as the preparations begin to cook the day’s harvest. The cave illuminates with the glow of life.

Sean Conrad provides some dope artwork featuring some inverted triangulation with a day and night mirror across the two tapes. This is a seriously fantastic split between 4 excellent artists, check out the Inner Island store to grip yourself a copy for $12 + postage.

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