Utilizing this passing glance approach, Bewider's layers weave and intersect, brief interactions that have lasting impact upon both parties. Di Muro's cinematic background plays heavily in the albums composition, and the "passing in the night" element is strong. Whether at sea or on land, the message still comes across strongly, with Ships giving a strong, haunting, and dark vibe, while also hinting at brightness and retrospection.

 

By design, the line speaks to mystery and the briefly known, but not in the dark, Lovecraftian sense, and can lead to an air of hopefulness. Same place, same time, but for what reason? Is it fated? Will there be another meeting? Bewider's electronic take on this trope follows a pretty rigid schedule with its tracks: "The Approaching," "First Ship," "Tetide," "4am," and "Departure"; however, this structure still allows the listener plenty of leeway in their interpretation. For example, in our lives, we're always the same ship; try as we might, we can only imagine what the other ship perceives during the encounter and what happens after the departure. Here, all the evidence is presented, and as the listener, one can see both tales simultaneously or separately, from ship one or ship two, and have quite a time envisioning each take on the encounter. With that in mind, Ships That Pass in the Night lends itself to multiple listens to further enthrall oneself in this chance meeting. One should consider listening to the album in different locations, times, moods, anything to add depth to each retelling. In any case, the listener is both ships, however what each ship tells speaks volumes of what is happening at the time. Not that this album would replace a therapy session by any means, but comparing and contrasting what is heard/felt during each experience really gets to the core of the album and of musical enjoyment as a whole. On surface level, Ships isn't anything wild, just a cinematically tinged, ambient electronic album, but like all art (and the ocean), it's what lies beneath. 

 

Bewider's Ships That Pass in the Night is an engaging work that examines not only the interaction of sounds, layers, and textures, but of people, feelings, thoughts, and ideas. Some pieces take longer to digest and our souls are nourished even further by this extended release of information. That's not to say, though, that Ships doesn't hold up to a one and done listening style, because it's fantastic on its first runthrough as well. Elements of 80's movie themes add brightness and nostalgia if one doesn't want to be immersed fully in the philosophical and psychological side of the album. However you want to listen, Ships is a fantastic album that the listener can visit, revisit, or mine for feelings and inspirations as much as their heart desires. For more