by Ben Hogwood

What’s the story?

Breath is the ambitious new album from Ocoeur, aka Franck Zaragoza, the Bordeaux-based producer. On this record Zaragoza looks to reawaken an appreciation for the world around us, and connect with the landscapes that are for most of us within easy reach.

As well as looking at elemental connections, Breath is a call for peace in troubled times.

What’s the music like?

This is an album that works on two levels. On one hand there is a blissful ambience running throughout Breath, meaning it is easy to connect with especially at either end of the day. Yet listening closely is even more rewarding, with Zaragoza’s clever internal workings revealed as tightly knit melodic loops spread their wonders far and wide.

The album grows from small beginnings to reach an early apex with Life, which has real gravitas and orchestral dimensions. The music repairs for the softer piano musings of To Love, Ocoeur exploring deep and primitive emotions, before Calling For Peace makes an understated impact. Here a steady drum tread proves immediately reassuring, pairing up with a rather beautiful chime-like figure.

Everything Moves, as its title suggests, is more active, the music dancing like ripples on a lake, before the coda Our Home finds a softly-voiced calm.

Does it all work?

It does, beautifully. Best heard in one sitting, Breath is a work that may be mostly electronic but could easily transpose for full orchestra.

Is it recommended?

Very much so. This is an album of poise and presence, one of a minimalist beauty but with emotional heft, too. With his Ocoeur pseudonym, Franck Zaragoza is creating a deeply impressive body of work.

For fans of… Harold Budd, Gas, Howard Skempton, Biosphere

Listen & Buy

Published post no.2,348 – Thursday 31 October 2024