Parascapes

Underground ambient musician MatC planned a small act of "rebellion" to celebrate the New Year on January 1st. Last year, he demonstrated through <Utoscapes> how masterfully he could craft soundscapes. His new album, <Parascapes>, adheres to MatC's distinctive musical grammar, but with a more refined and New Age-inspired approach. Perhaps because of this, the album leaves the impression that the ambition and capability he showcased in previous works have been somewhat diluted.

That said, <Parascapes> does not signify a step backward. The album still contains moments of beauty and brilliance. The expansive opening track "Parascape" and "Alpha Twig," which highlights MatC's ability to balance soundscapes with precision, showcase his impressive sensibilities. Other tracks also maintain a level of consistency and deliver a quality that allows listeners to comfortably close their eyes and immerse themselves. <Parascapes> even introduces a certain freshness, as if to say, "See, I can work with these kinds of sounds too."

However, the album falters in many aspects, leaving a strong impression of stagnation. The overall progression and depth of the tracks feel lacking, with "Symphonial Frogs" and "Photosynthesis Lizards" standing out as the most disappointing examples. These tracks lack spatiality and feel shallow and superficial compared to others. The immersive experiences characteristic of MatC's work are largely absent in <Parascapes>, which instead leans on repetitive structures that fail to engage and seem to meander aimlessly.

Moreover, excessive repetition and the absence of natural transitions contribute to a sense of fatigue. "National Forest Reserve," a track that heavily incorporates sounds of nature, sees its appeal diminished by overly repetitive rhythm loops. While the final track, "Thus Both Live In Harmony," reminiscent of C418, explores diverse sounds and achieves positive results, such moments are rare within <Parascapes>. The overly polished sound dominating the album further suggests that MatC's boldness has been diluted. Ultimately, <Parascapes> struggles to escape the shadow of <Utoscapes>.

Even with these shortcomings, <Parascapes> remains a passable ambient album that can be enjoyed without much thought. MatC's broad understanding of genres shines through again, albeit faintly. It is true, however, that his dynamism is not fully realized in this work. He is far from perfect and still somewhat amateurish, but he continues to show a willingness to expand his abilities. <Parascapes> ends by leaving behind a sense of anticipation—one that might seem insignificant. Whenever I explore the discographies of such extremely obscure artists, I am reminded of how much time and effort are essential for them. There are countless young and promising artists like MatC in the world.