,As a kid, I was obsessed with the idea of a good quest. This bore out in my love of all things science fiction, fantasy, and mythology. This included the books I read (The Chronicles of Narnia), the shows I watched (Star Trek: The Next Generation), and the video games I played (Dragon Warrior). It even extended to the scenarios I created for my LEGOs and the bike riding adventures I took with my friends and brothers. I wanted to see what was out there, and I liked purposeful exploration that followed required teamwork and cooperation.
Once I got older, these sensibilities only intensified in the media I consumed and into wider life in general. I like a good “found family” story. My favorite kind of science fiction could be described as “space friends solving space problems”. An excellent road trip focuses on the process, such as the route you take, the stories you tell, and the music you play.
In short, I like a good journey more than the actual destination – though it helps if everyone is excited about where they’re going.
These thoughts crystallized with each spin of Our Hands Against the Dusk by Rachika Nayar. Released on NNA Tapes, the album bubbles and gurgles with wide swathes of trippy, ambient glitch atop a rich bed of post-rock style guitar noodling. Mixing warm atmospherics with plucked guitar loops, the project could serve as the soundtrack for a utopian science fiction series. It’s an intoxicating blend of electro arrangements and post-rock aesthetics, complete with rich dynamics and orchestration.
Imagine a collaboration between Pantha du Prince and Explosions in the Sky. The songs also had me imagining a Star Trek series written by N. K. Jemisin and directed by Miyazaki. Minimalist soundscapes provide a firm foundation for the journey the characters take. Depending upon who’s in the lead or the type of obstacle in their path, they meet all manner of trebly guitar melodies, warbling string phrases, and airy synth pads.
The music tells a clear story of what will happen on this quest over eight songs and 40 minutes.
“The Trembling of Glass” opens our tale as an accessible tune that sets the stakes for the hero. From there, “Losing Too is Still Ours” is the true table-setter, serving as the “getting the gang together” montage. After a short “Marigolds & Tulsi” side quest to get everyone’s feet wet, “The Edges” kicks off the heart of the quest and gives everyone a feel for what’s to come later.
“New Strands” introduces some palpable tension that finds even deeper purchase with “A Burning Plain”. Looking up from that low point, our adventurers head into “Aurobindo” as preparation for the Big Boss who will decide their fates. Yet, despite the villain’s protestations of “No Future” for the crew, they eventually emerge victorious on the other side. Not without some hard-won truths though.
Like all memorable electronic music, this project focuses on mood, feel, tone, and atmosphere. Much like any good quest, the elements actively shape your experience in the moment. That allows you to make the best possible decision about the next step you should take. While at times the circumstances might be tough, the point is to keep moving forward. To take the next step onward and upward. The point is not to focus on a dramatic finale. Instead, to pursue the daily progress that ensures you’re ready when that larger change might occur.
Our Hands Against the Dusk is a magisterial album that honors the quest and encourages personal evolution. Nayar displays a profound respect for her listeners in how she weaves thoughtful electronic textures with energetic guitar loops. The sonic ideas burst forth, bend, sway, and build upon each other to the point that what once was familiar in the beginning becomes fresh and intoxicating by the conclusion.