"Living a Metaphor" is a glimpse into the everyday life of a detail-oriented individual. It beautifully captures the fleeting nuances of daily existence, blending melancholic chords with the hustle and bustle of traffic. The blend of using of cold colours with emptiness in the sequence of scenes intensifies this sense of melancholy, serving as a prelude to the forthcoming album by Carlos Ferreira, an experimental Brazilian guitarist and composer signed with AKP Recordings his forthcoming album “Isolationism”.
Ferreira's work delves into the intricate connections between sound, space, time, and memory. His album is an exploration of reverb-soaked guitar tones, piano, clarinet, pipe organ, and atmospheric field recordings. Through this sonic journey, he examines frequency, resonance, and sound vibration, achieving a harmonious balance between cinematic grandeur and lightness, sorrow and hope, gravity and the ephemeral nature of existence.
“Isolationism is a transitional album, the start of a new phase of what interests me,” shares Ferreira. “It uses space in a new way, not only as a ground for all of the development and decay of the resonances to be heard, but also as its own expressive arrangement.”
Comprising eight textured compositions, the album intriguingly juxtaposes elements. Each hypnotic drone track finds a melodic counterpart, ranging from suspended expressions that linger in the air to subtly ominous motifs, from suspenseful hauntings to the otherworldly. This sequencing accentuates the equilibrium of emotional weight within the music, making the album a profoundly personal experience for every listener.
On a personal note, my interpretation of "Isolationism" takes on a political dimension. The pervasive melancholy seems intertwined with the global experience of the 2020 pandemic, with particularly pronounced effects in Brazil. The narrative resonates with the way former President Jair Bolsonaro undermined science during a severe public health crisis, exploiting misinformation for political gain and negating early access to vaccines. This disregard for science and public health led to a mental health crisis and significant losses across Brazilian society during a period of isolation. The repercussions are still being studied in various sectors, extending beyond the human realm.
The availability of "Isolationism" in both digital and cassette formats is a fascinating convergence of different generations, symbolizing agglomeration after a tough period of isolation. It mirrors the resilience of individuals and communities in the face of isolation and adversity, offering solace and reflection through its intricate soundscape.
This writing piece can be also found in Outside Left: https://outsideleft.com/main.php?updateID=2818
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