I've been feeling this lingering feeling of existential dread for some time, and while I can't vocalize its root or reason, everysooften it just emerges at the top of my mind. Luckily, it doesn't happen too often, but one of the reasons why I started paying attention to this feeling, is my subconscious desire to explore, listen, and feature more and more drumless music, whether that's ambient, jazz, or anything on the more obscure side of things. One might call this an internal self-defense mechanism against that weirdness, and luckily, I've been pretty successful at finding some gorgeous music designed to soothe one's soul.
That's the case with Kayla Painter's Tectonic Particles - debut release on the UK's quiet places, "a record label where each release is an interpretation of the name." 8 vaporous songs, stitched together by an array of intricate details that ooze the utmost delicacy.
Kayla first came on my radar back in 2021 when I featured a track from her 5-track EP Somewhen called "Unseen and Unknown". Since then, she has continued achieving amazing things and establishing her footprint in modern experimental music. She performs immersive live AV shows, garners support from leading DJs like Gilles Peterson, and continues her work as a lecturer, radio host, and artist mentor.
Going back to Tectonic Particles, this record absolutely floored me. The level of granularity and the way she masterfully combines field recordings with a number of experimental music techniques is impeccable. Listening to this on the right system, and I bet you'll feel right there in the studio / room / field with her. Every listen will unveil a new tiny sound, and that's where the beauty of this release lies. In the small details. "Tectonic Particles is about small processes that make gigantic differences in the Universe. The star burning out that explodes, creating stardust, creating us. The drip over a hundred thousand years that forms a stalactite", she elaborates. I appreciate that - it's a reminder that every grand thing in life exists because of countless small moments.
I won't be doing a track-by-track breakdown, because like many ambient albums, this one serves its true purpose when experienced as a whole. This is an album that's a living evidence of her ability to build harmonious sonic worlds that don't need to be complex to be impactful. Tectonic Particles will wrap you in a layer of gentle poise, and that's all that matters.
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To you, reading this - I hope you find a moment in your busy day to take a step back, breathe deeply, and enjoy this masterpiece.
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