CREDIT: DYLAN KING
Music Industry Arts student Dylan King's Aurealis will hit listeners with a 'wall of sound.' That's a good thing right?

In this week’s review, I’m taking a look at the Aurealis EP by Music Industry Arts student Dylan King, whom I’ve had the pleasure of knowing in my time here at Fanshawe College.

An unwavering producer and composer of ambient/electronic music, which is normally not my style compared to other genres but when the good tracks pop up occasionally, it’s hard to ignore them.

Using interesting loops and samples, the textures have depth and character and fall onto the listener like a light rain after a hot day. The vocal samples from the far away city of Kiev, Ukraine that appear are dreamlike and will likely expose the visceral soft side of the avid music fan as each track glides in between sections with grace and elegance.

I love this factor of ambient music because it is certainly the kind of music that flows over you in waves instead of consistent and steady rhythms. It takes you on a journey to a place you can’t explain yet seems oddly familiar. It’s music that reaches out at you and keeps your attention without relying on typical conventions.

Any musician who appreciates big sounds and textures should give Aurealis a listen for this reason as its concepts and production should serve as an example when looking for that wall-of-sound effect.

Ambient music can take many forms and is found in many different styles of music. It can be traced back to the efforts of Brian Eno in the 1970’s when modifiable and versatile synthesizers became popular and resulted in the creation of literally dozens upon dozens of electronic genres.

I’ve experienced it less in EDM-influenced genres and more in metal with artists who take a darker and sombre stab at these techniques.

I’ve enjoyed these sounds as they create the same effect and maintain its metallic qualities through dissonance that I find enjoyable in the genre, which is often pounding and unrelentless.

Bands such as Ulver from Norway originally sprawled from the infamous black metal scene before making a huge shift to the ambient and experimental released that they are known for today.

Though not dark per say, Aurealis is still a great release, and I can safely say that without bias. I thoroughly enjoyed listening to King’s productions in class and then the final product that found its way across your usual streaming sites.

Listen and download for free at dylanunderscoreking.bandcamp.com.