Belgian composer Ben Bertrand is a classically trained clarinettist – he uses his favorite instrument, the bass clarinet, throughout his albums, even if it is not always immediately recognizable. Bertrand usually combines his playing with electronic sounds, which often gain the upper hand in his pieces. His layered sound is characteristic, often with a light reverb tail that never loses itself in pomposity.
On Relic Radiation, this results in two-dimensional structures that are reminiscent of ambient without ever slipping into pure wadi. Instead, Bertrand works with drones and melodic fragments that create a floating atmosphere – present but not intrusive, as in »Stereo A«. In »GW 190905« his clarinet playing is oriented towards minimal music patterns. Bertrand combines these elements in such a way that there is neither bulkiness nor complacency. Instead, subtle tensions unfold, not as disturbing factors, but as sonic nuances.
Relic Radiation
