This album could have been really crappy, at least according to its announcement: »Elements Of Light« was said to be about, well, lights, transmitted into sound by Pantha Du Prince and The Bell Laboratory, accompanied by a bell as an additional motive – which sounds like the worst kind of art-college-music. But neither Pantha Du Prince nor any of the fellow musicians accompanying him for this project make the mistake of producing only sounds for the brain. Designed as one very long track, »Elements Of Light« is a mix between ambiance and minimal, in which the quiet moments are dominating the mix. Rhythms are passing by like clouds, clouds are passing melodies. »Particle« would surely work on a dance-floor, too, but through the headphones you actually feel the sound driving through your whole body. Single beats pop up here and there, like in »Spectral Split«, and the high tunes of the bell give the whole record its very own, very unique sound. The kind of arrangement used in »Es schneit« from Pantha Du Prince’s previous record are nowhere to be found, because the theme of this record is not made for such heights. Instead, »Elements Of Light« is much more down to earth, running in fixed schemes, which are all directly connected to nature. Hence, the record is neither at home in an art-exhibition nor in a club, also because the artists demystified the bell so much that there is no unnecessary pathos left. Instead, every moment just reflects the enlightening beauty of sound.
Claire Rousay
The Bloody Lady
Viernulvier