Ambient Electronic: Bålsam - Basement God﹋﹌◮ (2020)

79 / 100

Basement God﹋﹌◮ showcases Bålsam’s skill in merging organic and electronic textures, creating vivid natural imagery through sound.

This time, we’re still in the electronic realm through a release by Bålsam, which differs quite a bit from the two albums I reviewed earlier.

It’s an EP titled Basement God﹋﹌◮, released on April 16, 2020. With a name as peculiar as those found in vaporwave releases, it offers ambient electronic/downtempo music with Bålsam’s usual touch—field recordings such as flowing water in “River Valley” and bird chirps plus human voices and chants in “Kambô.” Meanwhile, the first track seems to use a more minimal form of noise.

The song “Intro – Cave” also employs aerophone-like sounds to emphasize natural traits associated with Asian regions, while drum hits seemingly sourced from membranophones reinforce a tropical forest atmosphere reminiscent of Asia-Africa. “River Valley” itself has an intriguing transition that creates a similar mood, moving from synth sounds to a plucked instrument resembling a koto, and a short traditional hum between 02:33–03:47. “Kambô” serves as the longest and calmest track, and rightfully the best here. The EP closes with a collaboration between Bålsam and Lilac Carlo, producing a contrasting and highly synthetic output which I’d personally skip.

Thus, even though it diverges slightly from pure ambient, Bålsam still manages to deliver an outstanding and accessible musical blend. Highly recommended for fans of Bonobo, Boards of Canada, and Tycho.

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