Mathias Delplanque — L'Inondation

Music for installations is not seldomly more experience rather than music. Listened with full attention it might appear a bit dull, but as an ambiance—a mood—it can work quite well.

L'inondation is no different, the hoarse subsonic rumblings take the full playing time to change shape. By the end of the fourtyfive minutes you realise the sub bass has gone and you moved from a dungeon into something that seems more like the jungle. The initial heavy atmosphere felt like a descent into a dark cave or tunnel. A dark ambient mood, with a slow but steady pace and various rumblings that suggest mysterious activities in the dark. You find yourself surrounded by these deep meditative sounds, while there's an electronic hiss that that tickles the eardrums and has an interesting effect when you move your head. This hiss, transplanted from the context of the dungeon into the jungle, changed into what seems the 'insect electronica' of SE Asia.

Even though the original multi-channel piece has been mixed down to stereo, I think that L'Inondation is as ominous and spatious as possible on only two channels, by a keen use of frequencies. Spooky but also strangely soothing, L'Inondation, makes an excellent drone piece to play preferably at night.