Ian Mathias-Baker has released a hauntingly beautiful new album that fuses classical and electronic elements to create a truly unique listening experience. Titled “Specific Gravity,” the album is a thought-provoking journey through grief and introspection. With six tracks, it may seem short, but each piece is carefully crafted and carries immense emotional weight.
The album opens with a melancholic orchestral piece that sets the tone for the rest of the collection. As the music progresses, Mathias-Baker artfully weaves in electronic elements, giving the classical instrumentation a modern twist. The result is a sound that is both familiar and groundbreaking. One of the standout tracks is a setting of Charles Bukowski’s poem, “Man Mowing the Lawn Across the Way from Me.” Mathias-Baker’s interpretation amplifies the dark imagery and creates an atmosphere of existential dread.
The use of an acoustic piano, distorted electric guitars, and ambient effects adds to the haunting quality of the track. But it’s not all doom and gloom. The album also includes two poetic settings, one of which is T.S. Eliot’s “The Hollow Men.” The spoken word piece is set to a dizzying orchestral arrangement that perfectly captures the bleakness of the poem. As the track progresses, there is a sense of impending doom, with the addition of electronic elements representing the sounds of modern society. The title track, “Specific Gravity,” is a brief but powerful instrumental piece that serves as a commentary on the tragedy of the human condition. The use of strings conveys a sense of longing for a utopia that is out of reach, before culminating in a dissonant finale. As the album comes to a close, the discordant sounds fade away and the strains of a theatre organ can be heard. It leaves the listener with a feeling of being a mere spectator to the chaos and tragedy of the world. If you’re a fan of electronic music or classical compositions, Ian Mathias-Baker’s “Specific Gravity” is a must-listen. Its emotional depth and unique blend of styles make it a standout album in today’s music scene. So don’t hesitate to add it to your playlist and experience the haunting beauty for yourself.
