Entry 355 - Loscil - Endless Falls

 

It can be really difficult to write about abstract music. Sometimes its better to focus on the feelings that arise from albums with no real sense of melody or tone, sometimes its easier that way too.

On Endless Falls, Loscil explores all manner of droning ambient. From classical music inspired pieces, to a single tone that repeated endlessly for 7 to 8 minutes. The single exception to this is the vocal driven The Making of Grief Point to end the album.

Despite the repetitive nature of the album it does invoke quite a wide range of emotions within me. I find myself going between wonder, worry, sadness, and confusion throughout the eight tracks on the album. Some (like the title track) have more of a concrete basis to the music, and even include a bit of percussion (or maybe more like a pulse to drive the music forward).

No matter the tone the music takes on each of the tracks is excellent. Like most ambient music, this is experienced best when you can pay attention to it. There are minute details hidden deep in the mix that reward the listener who actually listens.

Albums like Endless Falls is one of the reasons I love ambient music. It's so simple on the surface, but if you take your time and really dig in to what the album has to offer it rewards you in kind.