Review Summary: Open the doors!
Themes of spatial exploration are abundant in ambient music, and understandably so. The concept of ‘space’ is key in reference to astronomical and terrestrial areas, occasionally seeping into psychological territory to boot. Listeners seek escapism, and what’s more unrestrained than outer space? mutaHERTZ’ ambitious effort
Fantastic Planetscapes provides a unique take, but the trade-off is unsettling. For a genre reliant on meditative textures, the unnerving delivery yields intrigue and disappointment in equal parts.
Where
Fantastic Planetscapes’ delivery falters is in its immersive tactics. Expectedly, it feels very alien - the analog synths are incredibly varied and crisp, and mutaHERTZ achieve their goal... almost. The duo, consisting of Jack Hertz and I.v.Martinez, seek to replicate the wonder of the 1973 film
Fantastic Planet. This sense of wonder is hindered; putting things into perspective, it’s similar to going on vacation somewhere exotic. You might tour around, aided by a knowledgeable local, rapid-firing esoteric tidbits you can’t possibly take in. Once the ‘education’ concludes, you might want to kick back and soak up the atmosphere, becoming immersed and feeling ‘one with the environment’.
Fantastic Planetscapes is simply too relentless, force feeding oddities at a pace you can’t maintain. You're trapped in a floating pod, eyes darting back and forth, struggling to grasp what’s actually going on. Repeated listens are mandatory, and thrill-seekers should rejoice in the polarizing approach. For a genre already characterized by apparent uneventfulness, a more jarring listen presents newfound possibilities.
On the subject of out-of-your-element fascination, there’s something inherently sci-fi about
Fantastic Planetscapes, aside from the obvious bits. Whether it’s the churning harsh noise loops on “Chaoseed” or the bizarre jungle environment of “Hiddentity”, the album thrusts you into treacherous lands and you have no clue what to make of it. It could occasionally benefit from a
2001: A Space Odyssey level of deliberation, however. This album desperately needs occasional lulls, allowing the listener to come to an understanding, taking away something less contrived. Still, the sounds of
Fantastic Planetscapes are gorgeous in their own right, provided you’re able to pick them out of their congested surroundings. “Xenomorphs” boasts innumerable tones, all of which warrant isolation. The overtones are serene, but challenging to interpret amongst the chaos of synths and endless pitter-patters. “Codefect” finally grants a moment of peace, and not a moment too soon; the least eventful track manages to be the highlight. Various sounds are actually accentuated, allowing the listener to zero-in. Criticisms aside,
Fantastic Planetscapes is one of the most undeniably gripping ambient pieces this year. Unfortunately, its elusive nature prevents it from being more than a close encounter.
