Guardian (TURQUOISEDEATH)

TURQUOISEDEATH takes another LP-sized dive into the vast oceans of progressive breaks, and never resurfaces, for this record finds solace in its deepest depths.

"Guardian" is an embrace with the sea. An embrace with the sea at its most tranquil — the tender lapping of the waves and the buffeting of the wind at the surface, and the rays of sunlight that pierce through the water's veil to illuminate the bright blue nothingness beneath — from the beginning, this record is simply mesmerizing. Because there's something so beautiful about the feeling of gently drowning in the ocean's solitude, a feeling that TURQUOISEDEATH models using shimmering melodies and sea-salted breakbeats to achieve that strange, powerful peacefulness this record intended. The "Guardian" is exactly that — the "guardian" of solitude, the "guardian" of the sea. But this record is also an embrace with the sea at its most chaotic — a delirious, vicious, malicious beast, filled with choppy storms and merciless tidal surges akin to TURQUOISEDEATH's crushing bass hits and powerful acidic basslines that take up equal precedence of this project, always at war with the tranquil aspects. Is the "Guardian" a force of good, then, or is it territorial? Whichever one it actually is (and I do enjoy the ambiguity), it's certainly hypnotic. The way in which this album progresses is equally breaktaking. Not just within each track — and let me tell you each track has some enormous progression that takes its sweet time in setting itself up and then completely outdoing itself — but across the entire album as well, as you immerse yourself deeper and deeper and the surrounding water becomes darker and darker. That's the other thing, though: "Guardian" just gives itself so much time to execute its progression. With 6 tracks splayed out across 65 minutes of runtime, every track (other than the opener) is above 5 minutes long, and so this album has no need of rushing itself, resulting in an immersive spacious atmosphere that holds engagement all throughout. And let's not even get into the final track — calling a fully-fledged thirty minute long grand finale a 'bold choice' would be the understatement of the century. But it works. It actually works. In fact, I could not have asked for a more satisfying finisher than "Close Your Eyes", a journey in itself, equal parts tranquil and juddering; an apt end to this album.

"Guardian" is a masterclass in atmospheric sensibility, and with the constant breakbeat that comes with progressive breaks, a project that can achieve such immersion as this is a testament to the creativity and execution it brings to the table. This is a project that dwells on itself constantly and overachieves because of it, and even though none of the tracks are replayable (especially the finale, given that you can't physically replay it for very many streams) it doesn't really matter, because the project as a whole deserves your attention, and all of your attention.