Holy Hum
Appendix C (independent)
The art of ambient music is a tricky one. Anyone with GarageBand and a keyboard can make some cool sounding shit in their bedroom – and good for them – but making something unique and worthwhile is no cakewalk.
Appendix C is a single, hour long composition that explores an arc of musical tension and release, making it ideal accompaniment for "exercising, doing drugs, yoga or having sex" (as Holy Hum's press release suggests).
Inspired by the passing of Holy Hum's Andrew Lee's father, an opera singer and choir conductor, there is a nod to classical long-form composition as well as experimental synthetic textures akin to those of Laaraji or Brian Eno. In fact, this track would fit perfectly on to the excellent Light In The Attic new age anthology I Am The Center: Private Issue New Age Music In America 1950-1990.
There are moments of sheer cotton candy bliss in the form of long held synth pads and swirling percussion. A sombre cello waltzes in and out, eventually bringing us to a transcendentally darker place filled with muffled percussion and deeper synth tones. Holy Hum paints a picture for us of travel, transition and change.
To capture such a dazzling array of emotions in a singular piece is no small feat. If you’re ready for divine awakening through the art of ambient drone music, consider Appendix C a journey through the centre of the universe. Or, at the very least, good music to chill out to.
Rating: ★★★★
