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MOMENTS (released 3/2024 on 4Bit Productions, Vienna) Airplay: Steve Barker, On The Wire - Slack City Radio (UK), Solénoïde (FR), DJ Marcelle - Another Nice Mess (NL), WDR 3 (DE), Klangwelten 470 Eldoradio (DE), Robin Rimbaud - EarSpace (UK), Zeit-Ton - OE1 (AT) „Ulrich Troyer's "MOMENTS" is an intriguing auditory short journey that plays on the merging of contrasts, transforming classical and acoustic guitar recordings into lush soundscapes via tape machine treatments, guitar effect pedals, and both analog and digital effects. This album is a testament to Troyer's ability to weave textures into an immersive experience that beckons listeners to revisit and uncover new details with each play. The album consists of two tracks, "MOMENTS I" and "MOMENTS II", which are rich with atmospheric dub influences and a sophisticated interplay of fractured tones, all held together by the underlying melodies. The tracks offer a sonic palette that is both expansive and intimate, creating a sense of space that feels simultaneously grand and introspective. Troyer’s inspiration for "MOMENTS" stems from personal experiences, particularly a realization during challenging times that beauty exists in transient moments rather than in an ideal future. This emotional depth is tangible throughout the compositions, where every note and effect seems meticulously placed to evoke a sense of fleeting beauty and the importance of savoring the present. The use of tape machines and guitar pedals isn’t just for show; it adds a layer of warmth and nostalgia, contrasting beautifully with the crispness of digital effects. This fusion of the old and new is a hallmark of Troyer’s work, showing his adeptness at blending his classical music beginnings with his modern electronic explorations. The careful layering of sounds and the seamless integration of various effects highlight Troyer’s skill as both a musician and a producer. It’s an album that doesn’t just play but envelops, making it a perfect listen for those quiet, introspective times when you want to get lost in the intricacies of sound. By means of "MOMENTS", the prolific Austrian producer seems to invite you to pause, listen, and find beauty in the ephemeral. Whether you’re a fan of atmospheric dub or simply appreciate well-crafted music, this album is worth multiple listens, each promising a new discovery.“ - Vito Camarretta, Chain D.L.K. (US/IT) „Well, this is succinct, and a release most definitely well-suited to the format. I was reminded following a recent post that vinyl is not a friend of the environment. It’s a hard fact to take. I grew up with vinyl, I love vinyl. But then, petrolheads make the same defence of fast cars, and people who love overseas travel and cruises likewise. Well, maybe. Although I doubt many grew up with cruises, the most environmentally-damaging of all tourism, being primarily the domain of affluent retirees, and they don’t give a fuck about the environment because they’re not going to be here to see it burn. Only today, I read a news item about how younger people suffer more mental health issues, suffer from greater anxiety over the future, while boomers sleep pretty well at night. The findings included that ‘Nearly 60% of young people approached said they felt very worried or extremely worried... More than 45% of those questioned said feelings about the climate affected their daily lives... Three- quarters of them said they thought the future was frightening. Over half (56%) say they think humanity is doomed.’ So I have every reason to feel conflicted here, and I can’t pretend that everything’s ok. But then the same people who are worried are also getting into buying showcase vinyl. I have no conclusion to this diversion: it’s simply something that’s rubbing as I approach this release, and we learn that ‘Ulrich Troyer’s MOMENTS transforms classical & acoustic guitar recordings through tape machine treatment, guitar effect pedals, analog & digital effects into a shimmering soundscape. The combination of textures and effects generates excitement and invites to listen repeatedly, surprising each time with new details’, and offers ‘Fractured tones, beautifully rooted and held together by the tune underneath.’ Troyer’s own words resonate on a personal level I had not expected. He explains that “The inspiration for the composition MOMENTS is based on personal experiences of the last years. I strived to achieve a beautiful and pleasant life for myself and my family through diligent and consistent work. In the hope that at some point “everything would be beautiful”, I lost sight of the moment – the here & now. Two serious cases of illness in my family made me realize that it will never be “nice and pleasant at some point”, but that there are just always beautiful moments in between, that cannot be captured and that need to be consciously enjoyed and experienced.” His words articulate - albeit in vague terms - the difficulty of coming to terms with the fact that life is not what you expect, that it’s not viable to pin hope on a perfect future moment. The moments of enjoyment, or joy, of pleasure, emerge through the cracks in the face of bleak news. On learning that my wife had – optimistically – years to live (it proved to be only months), we packed in as much as was physically possible. Making memories, as they say. They weren’t all good. Sometimes she was too ill to enjoy anything; some trips got cut short because she simply wasn’t up to it. She would rather we didn’t remember trips being marred by her being red-hot angry or through- the-floor down, and so we move on, and focus on what we did achieve and the better times. In times of darkness, music so often provides comfort, and more, and this is clearly true for Ulrich Troyer. He writes, ‘I feel the most intense moments of happiness when I have the opportunity to completely immerse myself in a piece of music for a certain amount of time while composing, playing or listening... Music as such has always accompanied me since childhood and has been there for me in both beautiful and difficult moments. I started learning classical guitar when I was ten. I discovered electronic music in Vienna in the 90s and have been addicted to it ever since. With MOMENTS I wanted to interweave my musical beginnings with my current musical language and expression.’ The two compositions are both under five minutes long, and as such perfectly suited to a 7” release, and across the two pieces, Troyer presents jolting ruptures and blasts of glitch, occasional churns and crackles, and, flickering and out of the mix, amidst bulbous bass and busy ambience and a conglomeration of noise, some tuneage. Some of it’s quite pleasant: some of it is more discordant, difficult noise. Troyer certainly packs a lot into these moments, and this is an interesting release, which places patience at the fore.“ - Christopher Nosnibor, Aural Aggravation (UK) |
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