Kindwave’s captivating album Net Runner is a “one-hour cinematic ambient suite” that depicts a sonic journey through a dystopian future, where machines run the world. The release is a thorough success from the project, formed by a London-based composer, filmmaker, and actor. Following a mysterious figure that traverses through dark alleys and glitchy mainframes, the album’s narrative draws from inspirations that range from sci-fi scores to lo-fi futurism — with nods to soundscapes within the likes of Blade Runner 2049 and Cyberpunk 2077.
The suite opens with a quietly evocative prologue before shifting into the dynamic momentum of “Against The Machine.” Across its runtime, Net Runner moves fluidly from the guitar distortion and club rhythms of “Bugging Out” to the serene orchestration of “Meditation Ascension,” showcasing a wide tonal range and an eclectic yet focused approach to world-building.
The album’s prologue ushers in with hazy intrigue, gradually incorporating heartrending strings that convey a delicately emotive pull. The epic “Against The Machine” follows, presenting an enjoyable nocturnal unease as flashes of synths appear sporadically amidst understated bass-y ruminations. Strings emerge with gorgeous precision in the next minute, weaving in and out throughout the track’s dynamic progression. A gorgeously elegant shift, around the seven-minute turn, incorporates simmering strings with a twinkling effervescence — arriving thereafter into a cavernous, bass-thumping immersion that’s fondly reminiscent of Burial. “Against The Machine” is a masterful display of riveting atmosphere and momentum-filled structural development.
“Blending In” arrives next, moving from spacious percussive mystique into ghostly wordless vocal effects and buzzy synth pulsations. More effervescent electronic tones past the two-minute mark add some glimmering light, though largely the atmosphere here is delectably nocturnal — and, when combined with the “Blending In” title, invokes a sense of otherness, like a human struggling to fit in within a horde of society-running robots. The ensuing “Bugging Out” is amongst the album’s heaviest efforts, presenting like a culmination of built-up anxiety and subsequent exposure. Heavy guitar distortion crafts a rock-friendly power, relentless until a shimmering mid-point — where club-ready rhythms, airy synth pads, and vocal glimpses assemble for a more futuristic-friendly shine.
Meanwhile, “Meditation Ascension” embraces the lusher tonal realm — utilizing guitar as well, though with a dreamier trickling quality, rather than the heavy doses of distortion within “Bugging Out.” “Meditation Ascension” builds from this initial elegance into murmured voice elements and into the mid-point, where heart-tugging orchestral hints infuse seamlessly within the production. The track’s conclusion satiates with multiple guitar layers, echoing the intro’s serene pace. Then arrives “Epilogue,” embracing cinematic, sweeping strings in the first half before the spaciously gentle piano assortments venture into the conclusion. Kindwave’s Net Runner is a riveting listening experience, from start to finish.
Check out the album’s visual accompaniment, below:
