Have you ever felt, under certain circumstances, a sense of unity with the world stronger than usual? Felt with your entire being that you are a part of it? No? Allow me to introduce you to a composition that will nudge you toward such a feeling. Its title is “Ether,” and it was created by the Dutch producer Ardisia. Looking through his discography, I noticed that the artist began his creative journey only last year, but he broke into the melodic electronica genre with a bang, gaining a solid number of streams within a year.
Sound Architecture
I am confident that “Ether” will also gather a large number of listens due to the incredible fragility of this work, despite its melancholy. This fragility is achieved through cinematic piano chords. Personally, even though they are placed in the background, I would give them an “Oscar” for Best Supporting Actor. Despite the eerie and intentionally coarse synths, the piano feels like a glimpse of beauty amidst the grayness of existence. Vocal samples play a similar role, creating a sense of space alongside the fairytale-like piano, as if pushing aside towering skyscrapers so you can see the sunset.
Yet, Ardisia intentionally does not allow the listener to relax, maintaining a tension that grows through synthesizers that appear more and more frequently after the track’s midpoint, while the piano appears less and less. This is very similar to adult life, where the sense of wonder diminishes with age, just like the piano after passing the track’s epicenter.
Why Listen?
This track reminds us that we should value magical moments more amidst chaos and uncertainty. Moments when you catch the “Ether” of this world and adopt its neutral and calm mood. Beyond my personal interpretations, this is truly a high-quality work that stands on par with giants like Kiasmos and could deservedly become your favorite piece for gloomy weather. It’s all due to skillful production and a high-quality background that adds emotional weight to the work.
P.S. If you enjoy deep and atmospheric electronica, check out our review of the release by Gryr.
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