Drifted Heaven

Abul Mogard worked in a factory in Belgrade, Serbia for most of his life. When he retired, his life felt eerily quiet, so he started making music to recreate the sonic atmospheres of heavy machinery. His self-titled debut was one of the greatest ambient recordings ever put to tape in my opinion (I listen to this guy almost every night before bed), and this is just as great, though stylistically a huge advancement. Sparse organ textures are more rhythmic, harsh, even dissonant in some places, though never losing the ability to charm. Haunting, full of pathos, huge soundscapes that evoke clouds rolling in the wind.

1. (8:27) a gradual crescendo of frigid tones floating around, never quite finding resolution, erupts into a static-laden drones by the end, like flying through a thunderstorm
2. (7:16) aptly titled “Tumbling Relentless Heaps,” dark subterranean pulses soon joined by inchoate mechanical whirring sounds
3. (6:26) hollow pulses reverberating, feels like you’re submerged in a submarine
4. ***(5:06) almost lyrical, windy passages of melody build up into blurred synth arpeggios, again a tastefully noisy conclusion
5. **(9:40) “Airless Linger” indeed, marked use of sustained drones, dynamic range completely supplanting any melodic movement, perfect for soundbeds or meditation soundtracks
6. (5:43) A calm and natural conclusion, crescendo sounds like a rising tide on a rocky shore