KAGAMI Smile - Sleep (Cassette) (SORES027)

"Sleep" is the calmest and most atmospheric one of the three released simultaneously by Sores. Spanning over four tracks of drifting ambient soundscapes, the release focuses on the producer's interests in structuring dense, saturated and vibrant drone ambient worlds. There's no sign of Kagami Smile's favorite drowned kick drums and tectonic bass lines here. On "Sleep" atmosphere reigns and it is achieved through layering of comforting, reverb and delay-heavy pads and various sonic artifacts, samples and sonic bits. While "Sleep" is mostly slow-paced and hypnotic, it's also not afraid of intensity as one hears in "Your Life in the Mirror". Despite being a mostly droning ambient affair, there's enough anxiety, vulnerability and tension in this music to keep you engaged and wanting to replay it again and again.