Dawn Chorus and the Infallible Sea
is an ambient trio consisting of
zakè
(founder of the impeccable ambient label
Past Inside the Present
),
Marc Ertel
, and
Damien Duque
(aka
City of Dawn
), three artists with impressive discographies on their own. Beginning with a self-titled 2018 release,
Dawn Chorus
have bridged guitar-based drone with modern classical, and
Reveries
contains a greater presence of string-based arrangements than their past efforts. The album's ten-minute opening title track centers around slow, repetitive strokes, and while it feels calm and assuring, there's also the faint presence of a drone that nearly sounds like an air-raid siren. As the piece continues, the string arrangements gradually become more detailed and expressive. "Deus" has richer strings and a slower breathing cycle, as well as some lovely bass, recalling certain moments on
The Tired Sounds of Stars of the Lid
. "Cadere" also manages to incorporate lower frequencies into a serene wash of sound. After the darker, low-tide rush of "Somnium," the final two tracks generally feel lighter and sweeter, though it seems like there's an atmosphere of cold wind or rushing water. The trio's music is both ethereal and earthly, and listening to their music injects a dose of splendor and tranquility into everyday life. ~ Paul Simpson