Bruce Gilbert - Ex Nihilo

Review by Richard Reid

Ex Nihilo, the latest album by Bruce Gilbert, is a stunning display of experimental soundscapes and electronic music. The album is a departure from Gilbert's previous work, with a heavier emphasis on ambient textures and atmospheric soundscapes. The tracks are both meditative and unsettling, with eerie sounds and dissonant tones that create a sense of unease.

The album's opener, "Apartment Fear," sets the tone for the rest of the album with its haunting electronic drones and subtle percussion. From there, the album takes the listener on a journey through a variety of sonic landscapes, from the pulsing rhythms of "The Shivering Man" to the dreamlike textures of "The First Touch of Light."

One of the standout tracks on the album is "The Expanse," which features a hypnotic beat and layers of distorted synths that build to a climactic crescendo. Gilbert's use of space and silence is particularly effective on this track, creating a sense of tension and release that is both exhilarating and unnerving.

Summary by Richard Reid

Ex Nihilo is a masterful work of experimental electronic music that showcases Gilbert's skill as a composer and sound designer. It's an album that rewards repeated listens, with new details and textures revealing themselves with each play.