A U R O R A

Frost, Ben
Mute Records
General | May 2014

Reviews

DJ Muscat
Reviewed 2014-05-29
Genre: electronic, noise, tectonic plates, volcanoes, experimental

Australian composer/producer Ben Frost has run the gamut from creating film scores to releasing studio albums to collaborating with the likes of demigod Tim Hecker (on "Virgins", and Hecker lends some additional production on this album to return the favor). Frost's pedigree certainly shows on "Aurora". This is massive, breathtaking experimental that consumes everything in its path. Think you don't like electronic music? Well this isn't some cut and paste garageband techno. "Aurora" is a living, undulating, beast of a record. Essential listening. Favorites: 2, 4, 6, 8, 9. No FCCs.

Others: Tim Hecker, Fuck Buttons, Swans, Raime, Haxan Cloak

1. (2:50) ** Distant ambient textures. Steady bass hits cut through. Super cinematic and ominous.
2. (6:47) *** Gargantuan pounding drums and bright synths. Settles down into a pulsing groove. Builds back up into another sonic onslaught. A writhing, insatiable track. Last 2 minutes almost became dance-y (emphasis on "almost"). Transitions into next.
3. (3:12) Industrial hissing and subtle background textures. Becomes super minimal (nearly silent). Sets up a massive amount of tension for track 4.
4. (4:55) *** Fantastic percussion accompanied by horror movie atmospheres. Transitions to bare percussion before launching into an explosive synth laser light show. Transitions immediately into the next track.
5. (1:31) Gentle synth comedown before quickly escalating into a huge assault of noise/synth/drums/everything. Super insane for such a short track.
6. (6:45) **** Pounding tribal percussion. Occasional quiet high pitched squeals. Bells emerge through the fog. One of the most patient tracks on the album but also one of the most rewarding. Last ~40 seconds becomes deep drone.
7. (4:27) ** Ambient hum. Sounds like a vacuum powering up. Really gorgeous, more sedate track.
8. (6:27) *** Crackling opening that turns into a very Hecker-esque soundscape (except with drums). Progresses into noisier territory.
9. (3:17) *** Low sparse drum hits and tormented synths. Turns into a ferocious storm.

Recent airplay

Sola Fide
A Visit From DrumApr 22, 2016
Sola Fide
Life AquaticApr 05, 2016
Venter
A Visit From Drum MachineMar 13, 2015
Venter
A Visit From DrumDec 05, 2014
A Single Point Of Blinding Light, Secant
Space HouseJul 26, 2014
Venter

Charting

2014-05-30 — 2014-08-01 Classical/Experimental
Week EndingAirplays
Jul 27 1
Jul 20 1
Jun 29 2
Jun 22 1
Jun 15 1
Jun 8 2
Jun 1 1

Track listing

1. Flex
2. Nolan
3. The Teeth Behind Kisses
4. Secant
5. Diphenyl Oxalate
6. Venter
7. No Sorrowing
8. Sola Fide
9. A Single Point Of Blinding Light