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 best way we consider cinematic sound in bass music. Because the 2019 epic was mainly a sonic storyboard that would have simply connected to a online game or movie, the story ended on a little bit of a cliffhanger with its final observe “Revenge” and Billain did promise the journey would proceed. That’s what nomads do, in any case.
Three years could seem to be a very long time to attend for the following installment, but when you recognize 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 great quantity of labor in he did, many people sound nerds are nonetheless digesting Nomad’s Revenge.
As promised, Lands Unbreached, which dropped at the moment on Minnesota-based label Renraku, picks up the place Nomad’s Revenge left off with a lead observe referred to as “Breach” that includes Tasha Baxter now taking part in one of many protagonists in melody type. This observe is leaping proper into the deep finish with extremely quick drumlines and even sooner synths and with Billain’s attribute pitch-perfect cinematic composition. Followers can anticipate this all through, after all, however “Breach” additionally places the viewers on discover that there are some variations between Lands Unbreached and Nomad’s Revenge, the most important one being that there’s virtually no dialogue.
Fairly than being arrange as a rating to a recreation 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, properly, intercepted by “Interceptor,” it’s apparent every observe is a brand new chapter to a wealthy story. The music consists in such away that one can virtually see the scenes transferring earlier than the eyes. It’s a visceral, emotional and even visible journey as a lot as it’s musical.
Our premiere at the moment comes after a collection of comparatively chill chapters, with “Battery Boy” and the like seeming to wind as much as what may be our important character’s final battle or determination. These previous tracks appear considerably chill with its bouncy, groovy hip hop vibes. It’s virtually as if the vacationers have wandered into some kind 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 wish to do precisely what the title of this observe 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 talents. New, “gigantic” our bodies, maybe? If that is so, it is probably not a nasty factor. The final two tracks on the album are referred to as “Reincarnation” and “Overcome” and whereas each stable, melodic and danceable D&B tracks which certainly give listeners a way of hope and renewal. Maybe our heroes have executed this complete journey damaged and impaired, and being “mechanized” was a rebirth to really feel complete once more. It’s only a idea, however given what we’ve all been via within the final two to 3 years, the emotional journey feels this actual. Definitely many artists can relate.
“Overcome” is the one observe on Lands Unbreached with dialogue and it’s an fascinating alternative as up till this level, simply over eight minutes into the 9 minute 30 second observe, 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 have been featured in Nomad’s Revenge, and actually the outro of “Overcome” sounds similar to the nearer of Nomad’s Revenge. It appears the heavy, frantic D&B of “Reincarnation” and “Overcome” have 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.” But it surely appears this time the nomads go away part of them as properly, as an “previous good friend” has been misplaced within the battle. Relatable.
Whether or not there’s imagined to be a followable canon to Lands Unbreached that follows Nomad’s Revenge or not, every observe 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 quite a lot 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 kind of factor greater than as soon as, and it’s probably no coincidence that Lands Unbreached ends the best way it does. The heroes could have gained this time and obtained what they needed, however no win comes with out one thing misplaced, and the journey nonetheless won’t ever finish. We will solely hope our hearts heal from such issues, whether or not precise wars or emotional conflicts. Maintain this concept and people caught within the battle in your ideas as you hearken to this album, and the story can 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 right here.
