Empty - Surfacing

The two Australian sound geeks that are behind the Electro/Industrial formation EMPTY have locked themselves up for quite a time in the studio, and honestly it felt like an eternity to me until the announcement 'Surfacing' was all wrapped up and ready to be launched was published. But Aaron Potter and Daniel Brunet took their time and didn't rush things to be completely fond of the achieved result which is available now since beginning of March.

'Deprivation' breaks the silence with a threatening drone that gradually thickens by injecting interwoven drum layers and starting the creation of a complicated sonic network. Somewhere along the road a drum'n'bass like rhythm emerges to grey atmospheres, once fallen down like rain; now streaming along an unknown path that eventually connects to 'The Centre', following right after the intense 'Never Get To You', having been released already as single. Regardless of the truly eclectic drum work which often bears the risk of disqualifying it as a club track, which isn't the exact goal of EMPTY', the song makes the blood boil and yourself want to move. The mesmerizing undertow of the melodies drags you right into a swirl of emotions, being made tangible by the processed vocals that, as already known from EMPTY, creates a nexus between an inhuman frigidity and the highly emotional feeling of desperation. And if we're talking about desperation already, the next song 'Drift' captures that one in an even more tangible way.

But first there's nothing to feel of that at all when a golden sunrise of strings drenches the world with their early light. They're going to be supported soon by electrified industrial beats of a metallic tone colouring, before a worn-out voice sounds from beneath the surface of an icy lake, where its owner is trapped. First it's only hopelessness we hear, but the climate changes with distorted noises rising out of the depth, tearing apart the deceiving calm. That's where the desperation really takes hold. It's an awesome piece of music. 'Ignite' opts for a rather straight way of delivering beats, still surpassing most of what's being played in clubs currently. It's in some way like a flame that's just started to burn inside the soul, born out of pain. Distant static noise and sustained layers of melody guide us into the 'Underground', which is more like a pitch-black abyss and a merciless voice whispers in your head "You can't be happy / or ever break free / in this space you're a null entity" and you think it's only a dream. But soon, you'll be finding yourself standing in front of the ruins of what you once called a life.

A storm wind is rising in the dead of night and distorted screams are drifting through the air from afar as suddenly a rhythm's cutting through and a choir of ghosts steps across the threshold from the great beyond over to us. Quite a creepy opening for the protean 'Recognition' that in the course of evolving further melts industrial rock fragments and a little bit of a ritual character to the sound as well. The song however ever retains a cohesive integrity and not appears as certain parts pieced together. It's one of many highlights on this album. On 'Breathless' Daniel Brunet's wife Alex was involved in the writing process to the contentually and musically heavy down-tempo track which is putting considerable weights on the minds. It feels like someone's on the verge of falling into chaos and unbridled anxiety. On 'Frames' we can welcome Tessa Zinyk, handling main vocal duties. Opened by crystalline piano touches, the track initially unfolds a heavenly calm to give way to a definitive situation in life "All sand's run out." A wonderful but sad ballad that's gotten a tinge of Soul through Tess's vocals, which are amazing by the way. The start of a successful collaboration? We'll see!

'Surfacing' is an album that's breathing and just like wine is getting better the more time you're giving it to grow. As someone following the evolutionary process of the duo for quite a time now, I can say they've constantly evolved and broadened their stylistic scopes, always open to incorporate new elements. 'Surfacing' is EMPTY's current crowning achievement where only music and lyrics together unfold the true experience.


Tracklist

01. Deprivation - 3:02

02. Never Get to You - 4:57

03. The Centre - 6:25

04. Drift - 5:46

05. Inside - 5:00

06. Ignite - 4:29

07. Underground - 4:43

08. Locked - 6:02

09. Forgotten Dreams - 5:29

10. This Regret - 5:30

11. Recognition - 6:11

12. Breathless - 5:05

13. Frames - 7:01

14. Internal - 4:21


Line-Up

Aaron Potter

Daniel Brunet

Music: 9

Sound: 9

Extras: -

Total: 9 / 10

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