Støvfigur — Støvfigur

Danish artist øjeRum (Paw Grabowski) moves full form into his Støvfigur alter ego for its first and self-titled release, bringing a mix of minimalist electronica and ambient to 12k. Combining the Danish words for "dust" and "figure," the electrostatic phenomenon is an intriguing (and apt) description of Støvfigur's sound - one's periphery comes to life. Subtle and evocative, Støvfigur is like resting in your room, the record player picking up light static from the inner ring, and hearing your neighbor's IDM softly penetrating through your walls. Much like the støvfigur that results when residue and acoustics collide, the music is an ephemeral glimpse at something just out of reach, dancing at the periphery, begging for further investigation.

Fluid, flowing, and nearly formless Støvfigur quickly establishes an enigmatic mood, softly bumping and moving, enveloped in a cotton-like ambience that helps to shuttle the listener along with the light electronic groove. Støvfigur lives between worlds, like the short-lived dust figures that give the project its name. Effortlessly blending two disparate worlds, the mix of light, almost IDM beats weaving in and out of soft, electronic atmospheres brings the listener in deeper, its construction offering up the warmth from its enveloping nature. There is comfort here, and even when songs break from the motif, Støvfigur carries the listener onward with lush and languid layers. On the surface, there is a simplicity to the album, but that is hardly the case, it's just easy to listen to. When one digs in further, the pieces that feel structured are just a bit off, mildly distorted in one's perception, and proximity to the thing changes how it is heard (like how columns are tapered so that they look straight). This is an interesting psychoacoustic trick which alters one's experience based on how it is being consumed. While many albums require repeated spins to get a fuller picture, Støvfigur benefits not only from repeats, but from different devices/environments. Drifting away into the album with headphones is a bit more tense and uneasy than over computer speakers while working.

Støvfigur's self-titled "debut" presents the new project working wonderfully with sound, texture, perception, and possibility. Comforting and warm in an interesting way, Støvfigur's nine tracks will quickly pull you in and keep you engaged for its entire runtime. It's highly recommended to enjoy on a variety of equipment, letting the intricacies work their magic on your ears, letting your perceptions shift, and interacting with the album anew.