Entry 308 - Downstate - Fragile Glass World

 

I love albums like this. Where we technically have fourteen tracks, but in reality we just have two... side A and side B of the record. Every track in Fragile Glass World blends effortlessly into the next and lulls the listener to follow along effortlessly.

When I first heard this album it was on a live stream, and I honestly thought it was two long tracks. When I got the digital realize I realized how they had split it up. It makes sense but the album works so much better as two long songs rather than shorter segments... or movements rather.

Fragile Glass World is minimalist ambient that goes through many phases throughout the run time. Ranging from playful melodies that dance over a droning background to the soul crushing ending to the album, there is a lot that is covered in a rather condensed runtime.

Side A of the record is decidedly more on the playful and lighthearted side. Side B starts out in a similar fashion however it slowly loses sight of that playfulness. By the end of side B the album has morphed completely into a monument of melancholy.

Downstate is a fantastic musical journey. I enjoy minimalist music when done well, and this is done exceptionally so. This is still the only Downstate record I have, I need to seek some more out.