AMN Reviews: New Releases From Reverse Alignment – Yousef Kawar and phoanøgramma

Yousef Kawar – Unclear Frequencies (2023; Reverse Alignment)

New to these ears, the music of Yousef Kawar on Unclear Frequencies falls loosely into the experimental / dark ambient category. An acclaimed videographer and musical collaborator outside of this sphere, Kawar turns his attention on this release to haunting drones and soundscapes. With that effort, he creates an hour’s worth of cosmic tones and rumbling accompaniment split over eight tracks. A notable example is Born in Die out, which comprises at least three layers of rough-hewn, oscillatory synth chording and sparse percussion resembling woodblocks. Other tracks exhibit spiky blips, irregular glissandi, and suffocating passages.

phoanøgramma – the void on a distant sun (2023; Reverse Alignment)

phoanøgramma is the duo of Angelo Panebianco (synths and sound manipulation), Matteo Mariano (synths and tapes). Their style on this release is that of windswept but gritty synth and drone layers, occasionally accompanied by manipulated mechanical sounds and crackling. The latter varies between being subtle and overt. There is a suggested psychedelia as well, perhaps in a hypnogogic manner – a sense of disorientation that permeates these three long pieces. Incorporating sequenced and looped passages as well as long-held ominous chords, phoanøgramma manages to be both cinematic and introspective. The 25-minute apophenia (extended edit) is an example, with jagged and hazy structures as well as a sweeping retro / analog feel.