Continuing the atmospheric and ambient direction shown on last year’s F51.01, Ryan Summers achieves even greater success in the style with a collection of minimalist sound and noise on new album ii. Showing “pensive reflection into social media, AI, politics, insomnia, and more,” the release crafts a strong vibe throughout with its rich, ambient textures. The general vibe reminds me fondly of Ryuichi Sakamoto’s most recent album async, one of my favorites from 2017. It’s especially notable on opening track “Nightshift”, where a gentle swaying of ambient illumination casts both an ominous and effervescent feel, somehow.
Stream the entirety of ii below:
