"Dr Sounds' 'Astralnaught' EP: An Ethereal Exploration of Sound and Space
There's nothing I love more after a long day than to put my salt lamp on and ask Alexa to play sleep sounds. There are so many to choose from, but since discovering Dr Sounds, I can't help but warm toward a new sleeptime favorite. I first came across the work of Sweden's Dr Sounds around a month or so ago and I've not looked back. There's an air of perfectionism that seeps out of his productions, yet they feel so effortlessly free of constraints.
'Astralnaught' the latest EP release from Dr Sounds offers five versions of the title track. in Track 1, the original 'Astralnaught' expect to be captured aboard a mission through the astral world. Packed with the sounds of water, telecommunications and other forms of calming sounds from doorbell rings to bell synths, there's an air of confusion yet the piece feels so relaxing in its business. Upon listening, I find myself within a sense of calm which is trancelike - a dreamy lack of control over my own feelings. I find myself free.
Track 2 'Astralnaught (Instrumental) is less busy but I can't seem to locate which of the stems have been dropped. Is it easy to tell the difference between the first two versions of 'Astralnaught'? No. But as I listen more deeply, more attentively, I realise that the telecommunications sounds have been dropped. There's no linguistics to be paid attention to, rather, you are carried down the lazy river of water splashes where the meditative chimes take centre stage.
'Astralnaught (Atmospheric)’ feels broader, like you've come out of your space pod and are free-floating across space. Space is plentiful here due to the stripped-back nature of the composition. There are no doorbell rings, no vocal sounds and minimal white noise and industrial influence, rather instead, the bell synths and chimes are able to roam free taking up as much space as they like. The sound of water has also been discontinued, making the piece feel very much earthed in the reliance on synths.
'Astralnaught (Ocean)' brings back the sounds of splashing water, this time causing a ripple effect within its version. Unlike the use of water in the previous pieces, this version amplifies its presence, transitioning from a quiet trickle to louder paddles. It's clever how the piece sounds so similar yet so different. The composition keeps certain stems, enhances others, and adds to some too. It's skilfully done. Again, with the Ocean version listeners can expect the absence of all vocals, industrial sounds and any other white noise, and to be transported into a nature-only zone.
Concluding the EP is 'Astralnaught (Prayer)’ , a song that brings back distorted vocal samples which sound almost like a chanting prayer. There's no sign of telecommunication or white noise. Rather, listeners will hear the dominance of Prayer as it weaves in and out of the mix abruptly.
The way that each version has its own distinct story is amazing. You can hear where the title of each fits in with each track. Dr Sounds' ability to match these versions so seamlessly is nothing short of genius.
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