Eternell – Imagined Distances
Eternell – Imagined Distances
Imagined Distances is the latest album by Swedish artist Ludvig Cimbrelius aka Eternell. Having released a number of records via his own Eternell label, Imagined Distances sees Cimbrelius return to the specialist ambient/gaze label Sound In Silence. He already released his album Still Light for the Greek imprint in 2018.
I simply glanced at the cover picture, a sunset over the horizon, and I knew I wanted to like this release. Happily, I’m able to report that Imagined Distances is even more beautiful than its artwork implies. Thoughtful and immersive structures give way to nebulous swells of meditative ambiance. There are just six pieces of wordless music here yet Imagined Distances clocks in at a weighty 76 minutes. It doesn’t feel like it. It feels as though you just died, went to heaven only to find the angelic forms of Brian Eno and David Sylvian waiting to serenade you.
The four tracks here that are around the 7 or 8 minute mark are reminiscent of Hammocks most downtempo work (think, Sleep series or Oblivion Hymns) Yet it would be folly for me not to mention the two pieces in excess of 20 minutes each. Both ‘Singularity’ and the title track are like albums within the album. They neither bore nor outstay their welcome in any way whatsoever. Instead they shimmer and flicker with elegance and an overall sense of utter wonderment. There is subtlety and contemplation, no question but above all else there’s warmth. I’m reminded of various n5MD alumni such as subtractiveLAD and Bvdub. These alone are valuable signposts and imply the highest of recommendations. That’s exactly what I’m giving this release. Imagined Distances is a stunning entry into the world of downtempo, ambient dreampop.
Per usual for Sound In silence releases, this is a limited edition of 200 handmade and hand-numbered collectible copies. It is packaged in a lovely hand-stamped 127mm x 127mm 280 gsm cream cardboard envelope with the front cover image printed on a polaroid style photo paper and an insert sheet containing tracklist and information printed on a 170 gsm dusty pink cardboard. It also comes bundled with a download code coupon and a Sound In Silence card.