Ben Frost- "A U R O R A"

Ben Frost has carved a modest niche for himself in the hearts- and more importantly, ears- of the avant garde/ambient music community.  Juxtaposing a pastiche of tangible soundscapes against swirling strings and minimalist drone, Frost's previous works could easily serve as aural brethren to the likes of Oneohtrix Point Never or Tim Hecker (with whom he previously collaborated with on the album Ravedeath, 1972). His latest release "A U R O R A", however, launches him into darker and  more idiosyncratic territories.

Opening with a cacophonous swirl of synths and distortion fed through layers of distortion (and a hint of extra distortion for good measure), Frost is swimming in a sea overwrought with a newfound romance of electronics. The organic textures previously explored are all but sparse here, effortlessly substituted with a bevy of futuristic assaults. "A U R O R A" exists in a world where percussive static leads armies of knob-turning machinery crushes over their well-intentioned rain forests. This is science fiction; the sonic equivalent of a Philip K. Dick novel. From the opening blasts of ethereal noise to the textured bleeps of the closing track, "A Single Point Of Blinding Light", "A U R O R A" works seamlessly as a lone movement.

If you're looking for the sounds of the future, Ben Frost is certainly standing on the event horizon.

You can buy Ben Frost's "A U R O R A" here!