Country: South Africa
Genre: Electro/industrial, dark ambient
Full length: Ghost Nocturne
Format: Digital, CD
Label: Dependent Records (Germany)
Release date: February 1, 2019
There’s something about second album Acretongue’s "Ghost Nocturne" that strongly evokes memories of my nighttime New York City visits. I was able to perceive and sense the streets, the night, even people I knew. It didn’t take long for the visions this album stirred in me to become tangible. The effect felt very much hypnotic, as if something unseen was instilled into my mind forcing every vestige of consciousness out, putting itself firmly in place.
"Ghost Nocturne" possesses a surreal, dreamlike quality that somehow triggers memories of moments or places near and dear to your dark heart. The songs were less a result of traditional methods of composing; they were rather shaped and constructed by the creative force behind this project. South African artist Nico J., (also known as Nico Janse van Rensburg) specializes in software and movie animation design and has provided graphic design for Seabound, Iris or This Morn' Omina. His subsequent endeavor represents a logical progression from his 2011 debut "Strange Cargo" which set the course for his project and garnered significant attention online.
Having taken seven full years to find the sound he wanted for this album, working nights into the early morning, presumably in complete solitude, he was extremely meticulous and calculating, showing he takes his work seriously almost to the point of obsession. It is often stated that if one gazes into the darkness for long enough, the darkness begins to gaze back into one's soul. This appears true in this instance, as the darkness penetrating Nico J.'s soul is vividly expressed in all its shades and subtleties.
The subliminal persuasion of Nico J.'s work somewhat resembles that of the low-budget indie horror film "Skinamarink" as well as the short horror films produced by Kyle Edward Ball. Ball's shorts, available for viewing at Bitesized Nightmares, reinterpret dreams shared by his YouTube audience. Using minimalism, they reach inside to grip you without letting go. "Ghost Nocturne" similarly speaks to you on an instinctual primal level that defies straightforward explanation.
The process of profound self-reflection occurs almost immediately, generating its own reality and providing a chance to contemplate your inner shadows, leading you to a state where you may lose your sense of self only to rediscover it. Experience "Ghost Nocturne" directly and uncover the reasons behind the acclaim for Nico J. and Acretongue as a fresh and innovative voice in its field. –Dave Wolff
Track list:
1. Abacus
2. Requiem
3. Endling's Call
4. Nocturne I - Dawn Crimson
5. Contra
6. Nightrunner
7. Minutia's Curse
8. Nocturne II - The Drowning Hour
9. Haven
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