Hieroglyphic object lets you jump into space on 'square surfaces'

Chicago-based Jamal Moss, also known as Hieroglyphics, has been at the forefront of (American) house music for years. The man has countless other aliases, and his output as a producer cannot be maintained for 20 years. He has been relentlessly exploring the boundaries of house, techno and other electronic genres for years. Moss wrote “Quadrules” in the context of the soundtracks for “Parallel Spheres” and “Figures in Mynd,” two parts of an abstract animated film by visual artist Gabriela González Rondón.

After changing the name, VIERNULVIER also became a music label. Use Knife and Younis' releases are examples of the type of music and people who want to put it on the map. Consistent boundary pushers who ranked very high on our year-end lists. So the hieroglyphic object fits perfectly into that image, especially with this record. Moss had already gone for dazzling soundscapes on his previous LP, “The Moon Dance.” Although the mantra is especially true Four on the floor-The attacks were targeted. Here, those ambiguous textures across the board are not only taken to the next level, but exploited directly.

At first the album starts off quite conventionally. However, as the show length As it progresses, it becomes more and more abstract. “Triquetra” and “Ogee” still swim through an army of drum machines, and then we're left with beautiful beauty. space The ambient song “Ceilies” delves into the space. In the middle of the track the tempo comes in a bit more. “Ceilies” in itself is not the most interesting ambient song we've heard. However, it does something important for this record: it sets the tone and atmosphere perfectly. It's as if we flew into the atmosphere after launching our space shuttle after Oggy.

All the subsequent songs don't just sound great. It's also more glitchy in nature than the tracks at the beginning of the record. “Conchospiral” stands out in part because of the tangle of synths that come at you like vines in a forest. 'Brachistochrone' is quite an all-encompassing game, with piano sounds hitting your ship like snowflakes. On the surface you notice mainly coldness. Although there is a lot of acid in the tracks that starts to creep in after a few listens. “Butterfly Curve” is a good example of this, although a track like “Triquetra” also has those moments.

Despite the fact that “Tetrahedrons” builds on the misty, dazzling elements of “Moon Dance,” Moss essentially lives in the dark here. In the context of soundtracks, the goal may have been to create somewhat cinematic scores. However, the lack of real beats is striking. The closest we get are the drum machines that characterize tracks like “Ogee” or “Diacaustic.” However, the album is recommended for anyone who wants to disappear from the world for a while.