“Folding in on itself” is a warm record in multiple ways. Ezekiel uses gentle, slow-moving melodies alongside field recordings. While I was listening to it, I thought of some of my favorite artists on the 12K record label, particularly Shuttle 358. It is that smooth. The field recordings merge so well with the melodies; it is as if the two were created simultaneously.
Things move slowly. One of the hallmarks of the record is Ezekiel’s patience. Having such a slow-paced album allows you to focus on the small details, such as the rhythm or small beats. For the first song, he avoids beats altogether, allowing only a wavering drone.
Ezekiel’s melodies are often melancholy. They remind me a bit of Terre Thaemlitz’s early work (particularly Soil), which combined these elegant sounds with a modern-day sonic neurosis. Folding in on itself doesn’t have the same darkness of that album, but it does have a similar bleakness.
My personal favorite on the album is “Ancestry Revisiting Each Other”. On this track the field recordings take over. The composer tries to invade the sounds of the city, hesitating at times. Personally, the conflict between these two different sources made this track one of the most interesting ones.
I like the intense focus on the quiet. Even when beats are introduced, they are so slight that you have to put up the volume to notice. This is a perfect album for a quiet rainy day.