Nemeton — Amygdala
Nemeton is the electronic solo project of Uk based Adrian Newton. It has a decidedly prolific output with fifteen albums released since 2008, and Amygdala it’s latest.
Conceptually Amygdala is a self-referential work, as all pieces were composed while the artist underwent EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), a psychotherapy treatment aiming to help in healing from trauma or other distressing life experiences. Moreover, the whole album derives from sound files dating from about the same time as the traumatic event, a fact transforming Amygdala into something very intense per se.
Eight pieces, clocking to exactly eight minutes each, consisting of several parts, not necessarily related; so seemingly more than one piece within a single piece. EMDR is trying to deal with memories being scattered in the patient’s brain in a chaotic manner, manifesting themselves as flashbacks.
The formalism and the narrative within Amygdala is an achievement in its own right, due to the pieces lacking continuity and flow between them, tending to sound like marvellously broken bits of something that once was unified. Eventually, they embrace each other into a single collage of beautiful electronica, supported by creativity, which really sets things in a very clear perspective. Correspondingly, Amygdala is a self-testimony and absolution, or a quest in search for both.
Beyond the conceptual aspect, Newton utilises his synth ‘n’ set-up in a minimal and compact manner, with the absence of any verbalism. At its core, Amygdala is heavily minimal and monolithic, despite its moments of lighter atmosphere and all the sonic colours of the EMDR process.
The album is nothing less than a roller coaster ride, with its dynamics fluctuating rapidly. From drones to more charged electronic passages. For some reason when playing Amygdala, Manuel Göttsching comes to my mind, but minus the percussion and the playfulness of Göttsching's work. It's also an album that sometimes features repetitive patterns, in a kraut-esque, somewhat claustrophobic and certainly eerie manner. With the brilliance coming from the simplicity, the bonding of the sounds and the crystal-clear production. Pure and sincere synthesis, full of emotion and materiality.