Ambient: Carlos Ferreira - ..And Then We Became Ashes (2020)

84 / 100

A subtly emotional and contemplative EP, executed with remarkable restraint.

I already mentioned Carlos Ferreira in his collaborative album with Ki Oni, A Hundred Ways of Escaping. Since I was curious and felt unsatisfied, I grabbed several of his releases that happened to be Name Your Price, such as …And Then We Became Ashes. This is a two-track EP released in September 2020. Carlos explains that it was recorded with two improvised guitars in a single take without editing, yet the result is unbelievable—so smooth!

The ambient effects on the guitar are so gentle and perfectly fit the track titles as well as the EP’s theme, which speaks about time and ephemeral life. There’s a contemplative and introspective feeling that reminds us we will indeed fade away in time. Listening to these two tracks—28 minutes in total—seeps right into the soul when I play them in the morning, to the point of wanting to feel sad, though it becomes a bit bland in the late afternoon due to fatigue and being less effective as accompaniment for heavy work.

I’m not sure which part to highlight, because there’s nothing that disturbs or feels lacking. This EP also showcases Carlos Ferreira’s skill in crafting ambient with guitar, and it’s definitely softer compared to Ambient Guitar for Christmas by Matt Borghi.

In the end, …And Then We Became Ashes is highly likely to become part of my favorite playlist.

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