Hannum, Terence – “Via Negativa” – [Utech Records]

humana   9/15/2014   12-inch, A Library

This album explores the adage that less is more. Locrian member Hannum uses voice and organ to get to the bottom of things in these three ambient tracks. “Via Negative” means the negative way, and the music is minimalist and droning in a way that mesmerizes. As in cooking you clarify by boiling away excess, in ambience you remove extraneous layers like melody and harmony to get to the heart of the matter. Track A2 is especially pleasing as it is like a heartbeat that never fails.