Nachtvocht - NV01 (2023) [Hi-Res]

Since the early ’90s, IDM has combined the free-floating formlessness of ambient music with the rigid mechanical structures of techno. It’s a combination that maybe shouldn’t work, but we’ve got three decades of evidence that it absolutely does. Dutch duo Nachtvocht are proof that there are still new and surprising ways to blend the two. Take the breathy, flute-like synth voice that opens “Dauw.” On its own, the stuttering, frantic sequence of notes seems chaotic and unrooted—it’s a bit confusing. Then the percussion kicks in, rooting that flurry of notes in rhythm and causing those same sounds to make perfect sense. As the song progresses, those opening sounds are joined by an increasingly bold array of synths that open the track up to create something expansive and uplifting. That is NV01 in microcosm. But it’s not the only time Nachevocht performs that magic. This record is full of sounds that are at first puzzling and are suddenly pulled into a musical construction that is intricate, captivating, and incredibly satisfying.

Tracklist:
1.01 - Nachtvocht - Schemer (4:27)
1.02 - Nachtvocht - Dauw (5:05)
1.03 - Nachtvocht - Nacht (3:56)
1.04 - Nachtvocht - Vocht (5:18)
1.05 - Nachtvocht - Deining (4:56)