How does Joseph Kamaru do it? The Kenyan-born, Berlin-based artist recently released an outstanding ambient album with »Dissolution Grip«, and his new LP »Stupor« is no slouch either. On just three tracks, all of which exceed the ten-minute mark, he cautiously expands his idea of the genre. KMRU doesn’t need an acoustic sledgehammer to overwhelm. His tracks steadily gain energy, but barely perceptibly, without making senseless noise. The volume that the 18-minute title track reaches after only a third of its playing time serves a purpose. It is through it and in it that the music unfolds its power, which this time has a more sacred touch than ever before.
The foundation of the three tracks is a seemingly endless drone which various elements shoot across or merge into a gentle, overwhelming flow. The opening piece »CPR-12« is reminiscent of Eluvium’s work, with walls of sound as big as life itself contrasting with sweet tones and samples—in this case, Christmas-like dots of sound and children’s voices. But that’s only half the story: towards the end, the track transforms and the mood becomes morbid, thanks in part to the samples now played on the Hauntology keyboard. On »Even A Tear«, the almost familiar lead drone emerges from the bassy white noise. Again, as always, with a successful outcome.
Stupor
