Paweł Pruski – Between

KrysaliSound

Paweł Pruski is a Polish ambient artist interested in the search for what lies between words, between moments and how to capture those elusive spaces in some sort of sound form. Over thirty-five minutes and six pieces on Between, various atmospheres are evoked, but each one feels as though the basis is a long, flat landscape, with hazy blue skies and the roll of purplish clouds far off on the distant horizon.

The drones are mysterious and sometimes unnerving; “In The Evening” casts us adrift in an abandoned barn, unseen creatures scurrying in corners while a faint wind ripples through bleached grass. Even when the scurrying drops out, there is still friction in the air.

“Moor” is more tranquil, but it still haunts in a pale, golden way, while the plangent carefree drones of “The Sound Of Oars” carry deep, resonant undertones that contain just enough of an edge to draw your attention. The gentle drift of “At Noon” really does put you at ease; and as the album progresses, so the scattered textures pass through this subtly changing landscape like flocks of birds or slow-moving aircraft, hints that we are not alone in these gradually unfolding vistas.

The isolated piano notes on “Scent” are beautiful in the way that they interact with the slowly ascending and descending tones, and make for a decidedly blissful moment; but still the mystery static lurks. The woozy-making drone of the final track puts the landscape at a slight angle, and once again our presence here has a question against it.

Throughout the album, Paweł’s dreamscapes contain us, but not entirely in comfort. Nothing ever really settles in Between, even though it feels as though it is; friction lies just in the corner of our eyes, and for that it makes for a gripping and ultimately satisfying listen.

-Mr Olivetti-