[Review] Drosera – Erleucht

Quick, what’s the first word you think of when you hear the phrase “Nashville music scene.” Twenty dollars says most readers thought of either country or rock music. This limited scope has sadly plagued Nashville for years and often hinders the development on new nuances and trends in the musical community. This, however, makes it entirely more essential for Nashville to open its ears and start paying attention to the host of local producers and artists that don’t quite fit in the cowboy boots and fancy jeans expected of a Nashville musician. Patrick Browning, under the moniker Drosera, is one such person. With a focus on traditional, analogue equipment and techniques, Browning successfully replicates that comfortable, floating feeling integral to the likes of Boards of Canada and Autechre.

Browning’s first full length as Drosera, Erleucht, broke back in March, but we felt the album deserved much more respect than the quiet response it got. You can go ahead and download the album through the Drosera Bandcamp or you can check out our thoughts on some of the standout tracks after the jump. Either way, take a moment of your day to give a listen to one of Nashville’s frontrunners of IDM (that’s Intelligent Dance Music for those of you not in the know).

Erleucht is rife with longer tracks, which perfectly suit the migrant, ethereal vibe inherent throughout the album. This atmospheric attitude is especially evident in the second track, “Uijq”. The classic (and classy) drum machine, piercing synths, and appropriate vocal samples summon comparisons to Loscil and even Aphex Twin, though “Uijq” rarely gets as dense as Richard James prefers. Regardless, don’t be surprised if “Uijq” sucks you into a hypnotic, relaxing daze.

Things put up a bit with the fourth track, “leqp”. Featuring some complex sequencing, the occasional beat drops, and wavering harmonic layers, “leqp” is a perfect example of what IDM should be. For whatever reason, this track always seems to remind us of some alarmingly white ultra lounge on some pristine beach in South France, but regardless of your mental association, the sheer elegance of the design behind this track is breathtaking. Tracks like this help to explain why Browning and his music is considered some of the most forward thinking music out there.

The sixth track, “8o8pqd6”, begins with an immensely satisfying drum machine bursting with little snare rushes. These instruments are soon joined by an interesting merger of arpeggiated harmonic lines and fluttering little bell ditties. A central melody soon takes precedence as this delightful song moves into full swing. Especially enjoyable is the incredibly tasty changes in cutoff and filtering applied to the kit towards the latter half of this excellent track.

The album concludes with “O” and perhaps is the most powerful demonstration of Browning’s mastery of rhythm. The pulsating drum track and occasional polyrhythms are not only inspiringly complex, but also provide a perfect framework for the rest of the tracks. The drums seem to fall apart on top of the last few notes of that wavering, familiar synth present throughout Erleucht. This is one of those albums which ends leaving the listener with with that confusing mix of satisfaction and emptiness; in short, this is an album that begs to be played time and again.

If you didn’t click the link above, try again by clicking this link to purchase Drosera’s album through Bandcamp. Otherwise, enjoy the tunes, and be on the lookout for more Drosera news in the future!