Singapore-based sound artist and music composer Darren Ng’s latest release under the name Sonicbrat is a beautiful album filled with acoustic and electronic elements. The classically trained pianist creates delicate piano pieces and glistening soundscapes that embody a childlike innocence. A firm believer in chance and imperfection, Darren Ng thrives on improvisation and records most of his tracks on the fly. While the tracks are simple, they are also intricately detailed, making it hard to believe that they were composed on the spur of the moment.
Of Things Unending carries on from last year’s release Weaving, which is available for free download here. The formula hasn’t varied much from Weaving, however what is noticeably different is that the minimalist sound has grown to become richer, warmer and more melodic. This is the kind of music that floats over its listener requiring no effort on the listener’s part, yet manages to stay in your thoughts long after it has stopped playing. There is also a sense of familiarity in the pieces, but it never feels as if you have heard it all before, rather, it is more like rediscovering an album that you used to love but for some reason stopped playing long ago. The sweet piano pieces “Dreams of a Butterfly,” “Man in a Snow Globe,” and “The Bitter Sweetness of Parting” are exquisite. The electronically driven tracks “Catching Rainbows” and “Star Gazing” are also saturated in beauty. Piano and electronics converge in “Whispers in the Mist” and the haunting “When the Flowers Mourn” with stunning effects.
Of Things Unending is a solid album from beginning to end, containing no weak tracks. It is calming, gentle and meditative, and is an absolute pleasure to listen to.
-Leanne Simpson