AMN Reviews: Forrest Fang – The Oort Cloud Meditations (2023; Projekt Records)

The Oort Cloud is a hypothetical region of space believed to be the home of chunks of rock and ice at a distance of some thousands of astronomical units from the sun. None of our extra-solar probes, such as Voyager I, will reach the Oort Cloud with enough power to confirm (or deny) it’s existence.

Unlike long-time ambient / electronic artist Forrest Fang’s recent releases, on The Oort Cloud Meditations he eschews acoustic instrumentation for long, slow-moving drones. This allows Fang to delve into uncharted territories of pure sound manipulation that are perhaps analogous to this uncharted part of the universe.

The album’s five pieces are gentle and for the most part brightly toned, though a sense of disquiet lurks around the edges. There is little in the way of melody, harmony, or rhythm, and instead Fang generates a majestic space-orientated theme of wonder and isolation. In doing so, he immerses listeners into a boundless realm, where the passage of time feels irrelevant. Each track unfolds like a cosmic voyage, guiding us through serene expanses of textures that oscillate with tranquility and placid fascination.

The striking yet peaceful feel of The Oort Cloud Meditations lingers long after the final notes have faded into the endless void.