It’s been three years since D&B, bass music and scoring producer Billain’s breakthrough huge album Nomad’s Revenge dropped and actually modified the way in which we consider cinematic sound in bass music. Because the 2019 epic was principally a sonic storyboard that might have simply connected to a online game or movie, the story ended on a little bit of a cliffhanger with its final monitor “Revenge” and Billain did promise the journey would proceed. That’s what nomads do, in spite of everything.
Three years could look like a very long time to attend for the following installment, but when you understand Nomad’s Revenge and even simply the standard Billain usually produces, it’s apparent this promised sequel wasn’t going to pop its head across the nook a number of months after its predecessor. Even when Billain didn’t put the large quantity of labor in he did, many people sound nerds are nonetheless digesting Nomad’s Revenge.
As promised, Lands Unbreached, which dropped at present on Minnesota-based label Renraku, picks up the place Nomad’s Revenge left off with a lead monitor referred to as “Breach” that includes Tasha Baxter now taking part in one of many protagonists in melody type. This monitor is leaping proper into the deep finish with extremely quick drumlines and even quicker synths and with Billain’s attribute pitch-perfect cinematic composition. Followers can count on this all through, in fact, however “Breach” additionally places the viewers on discover that there are some variations between Lands Unbreached and Nomad’s Revenge, the largest one being that there’s nearly no dialogue.
Fairly than being arrange as a rating to a sport or movie that by no means occurred, the story of Lands Unbreached is informed one hundred percent musically. Followers have solely titles and tones to observe this journey with our nomad pals, however make no mistake: it’s nonetheless a journey. From “Breach” the place our protagonists makes their first steps into this new Odyssey to the peace and pleasure (and funky halftime) that comes from a brand new chapter in “iNFINITE Blue” to arriving on the “Cosmic Gate” with Kemal to the jazz interlude “Reminiscence Block” being, nicely, intercepted by “Interceptor,” it’s apparent every monitor is a brand new chapter to a wealthy story. The music consists in such away that one can nearly see the scenes shifting earlier than the eyes. It’s a visceral, emotional and even visible journey as a lot as it’s musical.
Our premiere at present comes after a collection of comparatively chill chapters, with “Battery Boy” and the like seeming to wind as much as what is perhaps our essential character’s final battle or determination. These previous tracks appear considerably chill with its bouncy, groovy hip hop vibes. It’s nearly as if the vacationers have wandered into some form of robotic breakdancing cypher; it’s cool however tense. Then, “Mekanize You” breaks into 174 techno-based chaos and winds as much as an much more intense breakbeat. It appears the robots need to do precisely what the title of this monitor guarantees and mechanize us all. There’s even a synth sequence within the intro the place it sounds just like the androids are literally being constructed.
When the uncooked, tough and dancefloor-ready “Mekanize You” ends, we’re dropped into one other cinematic abyss entitled “Gigant.” The newly mechanized vacationers are informed to “awake” and be a part of the dance, a gradual, plodding halftime and gear-filled waking as much as their new components and skills. New, “gigantic” our bodies, maybe? If so, it might not be a foul factor. The final two tracks on the album are referred to as “Reincarnation” and “Overcome” and whereas each strong, melodic and danceable D&B tracks which certainly give listeners a way of hope and renewal. Maybe our heroes have finished this complete journey damaged and impaired, and being “mechanized” was a rebirth to really feel complete once more. It’s only a principle, however given what we’ve all been by within the final two to a few years, the emotional journey feels this actual. Definitely many artists can relate.
“Overcome” is the one monitor on Lands Unbreached with dialogue and it’s an attention-grabbing selection as up till this level, simply over eight minutes into the 9 minute 30 second monitor, the listener was left to create their very own story from the music, the precise story is available in and divulges itself. It’s the identical two audio system as had been featured in Nomad’s Revenge, and in reality the outro of “Overcome” sounds similar to the nearer of Nomad’s Revenge. It appears the heavy, frantic D&B of “Reincarnation” and “Overcome” had been a set of battles. Stated battles are over for not for our protagonists, however not the journey, as the feminine voice says the identical factor she did after the primary reckoning, “let’s go.” Nevertheless it appears this time the nomads depart part of them as nicely, as an “outdated good friend” has been misplaced within the battle. Relatable.
Whether or not there’s purported to be a followable canon to Lands Unbreached that follows Nomad’s Revenge or not, every monitor is its personal journey and certainly the entire album is a sonic epic Odyssey. On that emotional degree, there definitely has been an odyssey and plenty of battles for the world these previous two years which makes Lands Unbreached much more poignant. Now with the brand new conflicts between Russia Jap Europe, the place Billain lives, is dealing with, the message of this album is all of the extra obvious. Being from Sarajevo, Billain has seen this form of factor greater than as soon as, and it’s doubtless no coincidence that Lands Unbreached ends the way in which it does. The heroes could have gained this time and received what they needed, however no win comes with out one thing misplaced, and the journey nonetheless won’t ever finish. We are able to solely hope our hearts heal from such issues, whether or not precise wars or emotional conflicts. Preserve this concept and people caught within the battle in your ideas as you hearken to this album, and the story might be crystal clear, even with out phrases. And most of all, always remember to bop.
Lands Unbreached is out now on Renraku. Stream or purchase here.
