Human emotion is often difficult to convey through words, so art becomes the perfect channel for those needing to express themselves on a deeper, more intuitive level than glossology alone. War has unfortunately been driving humans to the brink of their emotions since prehistory, but thankfully art has been there even longer to serve as an outlet for those needing to get their fears and frustrations out into the world. French artist Lambwool created Ashes as a necessary response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine and its profound (and warranted) effect on his mental state, the emotions stirring from current times, as well as the post-war trauma burned deeply into European psyches. This work of dark ambient conveys the cold, brutal essence of this war, but by not getting too mired in the darkness, it presents a hopeful air that can help us all get through dark, terrifying times.
From the darkened depression of the cover, right through to the spot on track titles, Ashes is direct and unwavering its purpose to put the collective psyche into sound, giving the people an outlet for their own overwhelming emotions as this unjust invasion continues. The mixture of darkness and light (or, more accurately, darkness and lack of darkness) represents the duality on display, not only in the human mind, but in the physical world; the conflicts are mirrored internally and externally, every person linked to those fighting and suffering, either directly or indirectly. Inside, there is anxiety, trauma, and panic, but also times of joy, relief, and hopefulness. How the mind can go about daily tasks and have some semblance of normalcy while such wanton violence and devastation is happening is intriguing, but necessary. Much like the physical world doesn't cease to exist, plants still grow and animals still forage, so must our human inner workings. This leads Ashes to have moments of clarity; respites from the darkness allowing the listener to recalibrate and make sense of what is happening thematically, as one would do in the world outside. Well layered, the mix never goes too heavy pushing sound unnecessarily, utilizing each moment of its runtime to further its message. Shrieking drones to punctuate militant propulsion or just an ominous sense of dread, Ashes uses its darkness effectively, utilizing tension instead of oppression, showing that what is going on is a struggle not domination. While Ashes may not have been easy to realize through all that emotion, Lambwool's composition is easy to enjoy, and presented perfectly for repeated plays to aid in its absorption. The subject matter is very heavy, so this delivery method makes it far easier for the listener to engage, understand, and express their own feelings alongside the material at hand.
Unfortunately, hard times create the best art, but it's this art that allows us to come together collectively to come to terms with our own inner workings and, hopefully, process our feelings and emotions effectively. Seeing/hearing another person's hopes, fears, and vulnerabilities allows us to connect with not only them, but the human collective, and see that whatever feelings are brought about by such strife are valid, and that's the first step in processing difficult emotions. Ashes is more than a fantastic piece of dark ambient, it's an expression of fear and frustration, trauma and terror, but also of hope, and something that each of us share all over the world.
