by Ben Hogwood

What’s the story?

On his Bandcamp page, Brazilian artist Carlos Ferreira is described as an ‘experimental guitarist and composer whose work explores the relationship between sound, space, time and memory.

Isolationism is meant as a study in frequency, resonance and vibration – achieved through the use of electronic and acoustic instrumentation, drones and field recordings.

What’s the music like?

Impressively varied for slow music of this type, and unusually absorbing, too. Isolationism works when listening close up, but it also gives the listener an intriguing set of perspectives as they work through the album, each track placing them in a different soundscape. Around them Ferreira blends a wide variety of slow-moving studies, each individually coloured to descriptive effect.

An Extension Of Breath, featuring sound artist Echo Ho, sets an airy mood, together with field recordings of birds that will confuse the listener walking along on headphones.

The two Quietitude tracks are rather special. Quietitude I features sustained chimes that resonate deeply over a drone that slowly makes itself known and increases in volume only slightly – but enough to sustain a good deal of tension. Quietitude II is much more distorted and ominous, providing a heavy backdrop even when the treble opens out to more opulent textures.

Clarinettist Lucas Protti is a sensitive guest on Living A Metaphor, where his opening ruminations feel borne from a street corner. Percussionist Manami Kakudo brings an unexpected bout of kinetic energy to Naturaleza Muerta, with more playful riffs and bold textures.

Meanwhile Artificial Lungs is a study in perspective, with a single probing piano line tracing tendrils that are gradually washed away by a wave of more distorted but consonant harmony. Take Shelter is more restrained before agitation returns in the form of Organic Matter, where pitches align in bright harmony against slow moving percussion given maximum reverb.

Does it all work?

It does. Some of the louder music can be quite abrasive and confrontational, but this is an observation rather than a criticism. It shows that Ferreira can evoke very different moods in the course of his work.

Is it recommended?

It is – providing more evidence that AKP Recordings are a springboard for fascinating and absorbing musical explorations. Carlos Ferreira definitely fits the bill for that.

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Published post no.2,008 – Monday 13 November 2023