Atonauer — Ocean In A

Atonauer is the most recent project from Finnish polymath, Lauri Wuolio, and the first offering, Ocean in A, is a minimalist triumph that stands out among electronic drone works of late. The title of the release — combining an earth element with a particular note — recalls Terry Riley’s seminal In C (1964) and A Rainbow in Curved Air (1969), though Atonauer’s really makes use of the water motif. The work as a whole feels submerged in a dark expanse, absent any native light source. The sea is also transit, marking the transatlantic journey between Finland and New York, where the bulk of Ocean in A was recorded.

Divided into seven compositions, each of similar length and with their own unique identity, each piece emphasises a discrete acoustic parameter, almost like a demonstration of sonic possibilities with minimal source material. “A 1“ creates a first spatial survey, followed by subtle movement in “A 2“. “A 3“ puts the amplitude modulation of the preceding track into something orchestral and cacophonous. Atonauer references a borrowed Roland Space Echo (partly malfunctioning, like all of them, really) as one of the central instruments, and the manipulation of the tape device introduces all manner of ghostly noise and fluctuations of speed. By “A 5“, the jetsam has returned and with it, something resembling individual notes rising to the surface. The farewell transmission of “A 7“ leaves no doubt that a new musical form is on its way out of the darkness.

Fans of minimalist electronics with an undercurrent of drone, will appreciate the surgical precision of Atonauer‘s production. Very recommended!