Organized chaos from the experimental duo...
19 · 03 · 2025
When you think about improvisation in music, what comes to mind? Jazz musicians casually jamming, or blues artists executing solo after solo over a simple drumbeat? I was thrilled to learn that AMIANGELIKA & 1100 were collaborating, and my excitement intensified upon discovering it would be an improvisational album. In electronic music, improvisation isn't as prevalent as one might hope, particularly compared to experimental genres. However, as I delved into ‘BLCK SUN’, it exceeded my expectations and felt greater than the sum of its parts. The album explores the duality of existence—the light and dark aspects, the order and chaos—and delivers a wealth of organized chaos.
The first thing that strikes you about ‘BLCK SUN’ is its serene, cinematic quality. The music flows at a relaxed pace, undulating smoothly without rushing to any conclusion, and sometimes seemingly avoiding a clear resolution, all while crafting lush, textured soundscapes. On ‘Redemption’, the sound begins with a fuzzy, flexible quality that persists throughout. There’s a swelling sense of pride, yet it never comes across as joyous. Instead, it carries undercurrents of melancholy, reminiscent of the bittersweetness inherent in redemptive journeys—evoking a painful past that is leading to a vibrant present.
‘Radiance’ incorporates vocals through a vocoder, accompanied by subtle synths and electronic elements. Then a sweeping, grand melody emerges, making it one of the most beautiful pieces of music I’ve encountered all year. The vocal textures provide a nice contrast, breaking up the instrumental segments and lending a more human touch to the album—something often lacking in electronic music. At times, electronic albums sound so artificial that it feels like no human was involved beyond simply turning everything on. The addition of vocals serves as a reminder of life’s fragility, echoing the album’s themes of light and dark.
If you enjoy artists like KMRU, Disparition, or Vangelis, this album is likely to become one you’ll deeply appreciate. The tracks seamlessly blend into one another, making it feel less like a 10-track collection and more like a singular, uninterrupted piece of music. I’m curious to see how AMIANGELIKA & 1100 would perform this live—given its improvisational nature, could they recreate it? Would their live performances consist of extended versions of the album tracks or, more intriguingly, feature an hour of new music in a similar style? These questions make ‘BLCK SUN’ a captivating listen.
7/10
Words: Nick Roseblade
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