Young, Nate – “Regression Vol. 3” – [Rockatansky Records]

incognito   10/2/2013   12-inch, A Library

Double LP from Nate Young, the third of the “Regression” series. A collection of ambient soundscapes, sound collages and experimental music with a subdued and contemplative tone. The album comes with a clear and a black vinyl disc, and features artwork done by Young and his wife Alivia Zivich. The two created an installation for Tokyo’s Haus Gallery which involved designing 22 acrylic pieces with associated pieces of music for each piece. The audio was then cut into the pieces on a lathe (much like an acetate disc or dubplate), transforming both the images and the music in the process, blurring the lines between audio and visual art.

The compositions on the clear disc (disc 1) are long and relaxed. Tones and long, drawn out sounds create a calm and mellow ambient aesthetic. Disc two contains many shorter pieces, punctuated by struck objects, tinny drums, synth tones, descending minor scales, digital insect drones, signal tearing, bleep bloops and tape stretch effects. Much more of an experimental, sound collage of some netherworld of wind, ghosts and nanobugs. This is a really cool album for the experimental and ambient fans.