Stärker — Spectral

[Aesthetical — 2025]★★★★★

Reviewed 15 December 2025by Colin Lang

Stärker, a Canadian-French duo, really know what they're doing. Their latest release, the captivating Spectral, is pitch-perfect, each sound source simultaneously exacting and expansive, precise and yet open like a chasm.

The mood overall is dark, but the minimalist approach to this form of ambience leaves plenty of room for dwelling in its sunless spaces. There are faint rhythmic sequences pumping along to scratchy, textured analog signals on the opener, "Nullify". Each of the six tracks builds both vertically, along a durational axis and horizontally, as if there were an ever-widening view onto each sonic landscape. These axes are then complemented by steady increases in pressure, as Stärker skillfully manipulates the vibrating mechanism of a listening ear.

Rather than accumulate into some kind of predictable complexity, Spectral slowly dissolves the preceding pressure as the album moves on, emptying into the title track, as rhythm slowly gives way to a bottomless void of erased texture. This is the standout track on an impressively produced work, showcasing Stärker's uncanny ability to manipulate the appearance and then disappearance of each discrete element. Spectral accomplishes what many in the dark ambient genre are at pains to achieve: an album that rewards both concentrated and distracted listening.

Fans of dark ambient and first-class music production will get totally swallowed up by this amazing work. One of the best albums of the year!