A stark departure from the jittery techno experiments of 2020's
Time Makes Nothing Happen,
M. Geddes Gengras' third
Hausu Mountain release is a shimmering ambient suite that drifts closely to the vaporous side of space rock and ethereal dream pop. Most of the tracks feature electric guitar or bass by
Cyrus Gengras,
M. Geddes' brother and former collaborator as the avant-folk duo
Antique Brothers during the 2000s. Vocals and drums are absent, but the suspended basslines and expansive sequences provide guidance, making the listener feel like the occupant of a small boat being propelled farther away from the shore. The cosmic guitar trails of "A Rhythmic Stillness as Root Had I" transform into soaring arcs that seem slightly burnt at the ends, adding some grit to the crystalline synth melodies. Pieces like "Give as Proportion" and "Deadly, Holy, Rough" are enriched by the organic guitars and bass, yet the glowing synths are what set the currents in motion. Supremely tranquil yet active and aware, the album continually steers its own path forward. ~ Paul Simpson
