Architects of Existence - Three Deep Breaths (2020)

Mick Chillage and Eric “The” Taylor, better known to the ambient cognoscenti as Architects of Existence, return with a follow-up to their earlier self-titled Carpe Sonum debut, and it’s a dandy. Neither artist’s been resting on his laurels these past three years, but whatever spirits they’ve imbibed since has had a pretty dramatic effect on their respective gray matter. To wit, they’ve brought to bear on this superb follow-up a near-telepathic line of communication that has yielded one of this years' most compelling opuses. Imagine taking a literal plunge into the clicking synapses, irising filters, snapping envelopes, and charging whips of electricity at the core of the duo’s gear, audiovisually mapping the results, and pushing the molecules of air outward to yield the mighty textures leaping forth. Does the word ‘epic’ come to mind? These two Architects have crafted a Fax-like artifact for the ages, full of mammoth synths that carve out great chunks of sky and leave the listener riveted in mindstates awash in awe. From the near-symphonic brushstrokes of “Pulling”, which takes on an Michel Huygen/Neuronium-like grandeur, to the pearlescent sequencer patterns adorning “A Trickled Tear”, this dynamic duo effortlessly trips the light fantastic.