Portland resident Hunter P. Thompson has been producing crystalline, vaporwave-adjacent ambient and new age as
Opaline since the early 2010s, as well as more beat-driven material as
Akasha System, which he refers to as "eco-techno."
Echo Earth,
Akasha System's first vinyl full-length, certainly sounds like the work of someone in tune with nature -- these tracks are lush, mossy, and green, seeming to emanate from a secluded space in a forest or by a riverside instead of being built and fine-tuned in a professional studio. Thompson's melodies equally express the freedom and isolation of being alone in such an environment, sounding in awe of the natural beauty while also missing a human touch. Ultimately, though, the soothing textures and flowing rhythms wash any concerns away. Thompson's beats drift between a dubby house throb and more intricate patterns, sometimes accompanied by hand drums or cymbals. "Warped Shadows" has a broken, clicky beat pattern recalling Morr Music's early-2000s heyday, beautifully complimenting its cascading melody. A couple tracks approach the ecstatic fervor of
Aphex Twin's "On," but without the hyperactive beats. Otherwise, the release is simply a set of gorgeously subdued instrumentals more fit for relaxation and reflection than dancing. ~ Paul Simpson