'Maps for the Lost' (preview / continuous DJ mix) – Fragile X (See Blue Audio SBA #009) by See Blue Audio published on 2020-06-21T23:09:26Z 'Maps for the Lost' Fragile X See Blue Audio SBA 009 1. Departure from Nowhere 2. Wayfarer 3. Maps for the Lost 4. Passing the Ley Lines 5. Full Circle (True North) Release date: 17 July 2020 lnk.to/SBA009 See Blue Audio: ambient / electronic / beatless / cinematic / downtempo / eclectic / introspective… Shade rather than light... For the label's ninth release, See Blue Audio heads over to Glasgow with 'Maps for the Lost' from the accomplished and prolific electronic artist Fragile X. With a sound described as "drifting somewhere in the audio void between the chaos and the calm", Fragile X moves freely between ambient and techno, taking in IDM, breaks, electro, glitch and drone, and experimental electronica along the way. As well as being the founder, label manager and one of the principal producers on the respected Bricolage imprint, Fragile X has recently released and remixed for labels like Disintegration State, Triplicate Records and Light At The End under his Leit Motif guise. He's also known for his expansive, genre-crossing DJ mixes and podcasts. Now it's the turn of See Blue Audio with 'Maps for the Lost', a collection that reveals what is perhaps the most intriguing aspect of Fragile X: he is a sonic storyteller with the enquiring mind of an adventurer. These stories may take the form of underground electronic music, but they are essentially stories, nonetheless. Over the five tracks of 'Maps for the Lost', the listener is taken on an audio journey where the music flows together using field recordings, spoken word samples, beatless soundscapes and sound design techniques. This goes far beyond being a sequence of tracks as this feeling of transportation is an inherent narrative throughout the music, starting with the wide-open spaces and sense of mystery radiating from 'Departure from Nowhere'. 'Wayfarer' follows with the music taking a subtle shift, almost as if it has been exposed to light and a sense of purpose created. The use of glitch effects heightens this sensation of stepping into the unknown. Next up is the title track, and 'Maps for the Lost' begins with a delicate melody before being consumed by drums and a bassline to dramatic effect. It's knowing the right moment to add these elements that really allows the music to breathe and build the narrative; lost we may be but moving forward with wonder. On 'Passing the Ley Lines', our feet are planted back on the earth, but as with the concept of ley lines, nothing is quite what it seems. Rich textures of ambient sound shift and realign like the ground beneath our feet, and some kind of equilibrium is established. The conclusion of 'Full Circle (True North)' is exactly as the title suggests: all things must return to their source for harmony to be restored. Based around a simple piano refrain, true north is found again, and we can rest from our travels. It's as much about the journey as the destination: this may be a well over-used concept, but with 'Maps for the Lost' it feels right. With this release, Fragile X has created a musical travelogue that is far more than just a metaphor. Be transported. Mastered by Richard Jones at Dark Fidelity Hi Fi Studios. Photography: R.Cleveland Aaron. Genre Ambient Comment by Gessica Jane Still I like it alot, captivating 2021-04-22T02:29:20Z Comment by Quixotic Mint 2020-07-09T20:40:59Z