Review: The Meticulous Metallic Transformations Of Electric Indigo’s ‘Ferrum’
Electric Indigo | Ferrum | Editions Mego
Release Date: 20 March, 2020
Within every piece of matter, there lies a story. The narrative slumbering within each little thing that surrounds us exists in a manner that may be intangible, or with the simple reach of a finger or clutch of a curious palm can speak volumes within its auditory texture alone.
In ‘Ferrum’ – Austrian DJ and producer Susanne Kirchmayr, otherwise known under her moniker Electric Indigo, delves into the intricacies of metallic objects – how their tangible use, can allow their intangible stories to be shaped via sound: creating rhythms, melodies and transformations fruitful with texture. Kirchmayr recorded sounds from a myriad of metallic objects ranging in shape and size, with each deeply distinct object adding a new layer of immersion: the artist thoughtfully constructed and arranged her metallic collection, composing a highly engaging atmosphere with a precise, focused vision.
The raw, pounding grit of ‘ferrum 4‘s steady, unwavering beat glows with a radiant obscurity; the steady, self-assured pulse never wavers in momentum – an obscure, yet bewitching darkness that holds within it a a sense of abundance that digs into one’s ribcage, the strong vibration of alien bones in it’s spellbinding and bizarre nature. The palpitation of the intricately woven, rhythmic textures colour the track with an aura that can easily be described as deeply intriguing; Kirchmayr’s metallic modulation induces an extraterrestrial industrial atmosphere. An experimental approach to an otherworldly dancefloor, the unnerving use of dissonant, cacophonous beats and rattling reverberation is truly hypnotic in nature.
The brutal anxiety of ‘ferrum 6‘ is apparent from it’s very beginning; the detailed construction of ominous ambience creates a daunting sense of isolation, the skin-crawling, nerve-wracking sense that there is danger lurking, creeping, crawling around the corner – and akin to the narrative of a film (of which ‘ferrum 6’ would be a perfect companion in both science-fiction and horror) the protagonist has found themselves utterly alone, faced with the fear of the unknown. The distant resonance and sporadic ricochet of unsettling metallic timbres crafts an atmosphere exceptionally immersive with its uneasy tone – the low, airy drone of eerie ambience with distant, intermittent crashes and creaks; along with the gradual introduction of sunken, repetitive cyber-esque heartbeats is reminiscent of what one could assume is a malfunctioning spacecraft, adding further to sinister mood. As the track reaches its close, elements of a quiet, glitching dancelike-rhythm delicately makes its way to the forefront, still frail and nervous yet with a feeling of intense concentration and focus.
Kirchmayr’s dynamic approach in her creation of ‘Ferrum’ is truly intriguing in and of itself; the use of a myriad of metallic objects and their digital transformation allows for a complex, immersive offering that is an artwork in auditory form – with Kirchmayr’s meticulous attention to detail fascinating and highly unique.
Rating: 8 / 10
Feature Image: Electric Indigo by Elsa Okazak
