Araya - The Bridge of Hesitation

Araya, the solo work of Inverness-born electronic musician Keir MacCulloch, displays notable experience in the field. From a technical standpoint, The Bridge of Hesitation is very finely tweaked: samples are carefully fitted, the beats are complex when they need to be, instrumental loops are varied and colourful, synthesizers are synthesizing, sequencers are sequencing, and all sliders and knobs seem to be in place. However, it all needs a little more evocation. The mood — delicately established with frequent crystalline tones and icy twinkles throughout — is there, but most of these songs need a certain presence that, when it comes to electronic music, can only be communicated through the smallest details. Araya is too focused on unfolding the core elements (which, in and of themselves, sound great) of each track when, in the digital landscape, it’s always a subtle pitchshift, or an eerie sample in the background, or a singular blotch of modular sound, or just the right amount of reverb that really speaks to you. [Jorge Marticorena]