[The Soup Nazi]

A bit on Fennesz's Agora on Bandcamp Daily:

A fascinating and meditative record, Agora pairs the usual minimalist compositions of drone with a unique auditory palette. Fennesz often uses lo-fi textures here, likely a result of the stripped-back bedroom gear utilized in the making of the album. Though the tracks often remain consistent through sustained pad synths, background sound effects and lead layers add tremendous depth to the project. Fennesz's bio describes himself as "anything but sterile," an assessment I agree with. Although the main leads often remain consistent throughout the tracks, the sound is alive. With its synthesized elements constantly changing, Agora's often crunchy and high-pitched mix works in its favor of creating an album strangely reminiscent of the unpredictability of, for instance, a tornado. The last track is the record's high point. Opening with a subdued distorted guitar strum layered with lush pads, "We Trigger the Sun" builds to a euphoric climax, a frenzy of analog bass notes, metallic lead overtones, muffled percussive hits, and bursts of synth chords. (-Ari Delaney)