SOWER OF WIND

The Experimental / Post Metal band "Rosetta" was formed in 2003 in Philadelphia, PA and has released 6 albums and 5 EPs since that time. Their music has been a study of extremes and experimentation with dynamics. Their current line-up consists of Mike Armine doing sampling, Eric Jernigan on keyboards, pianos, and guitars and Matt Weed on bass, guitars, keyboards, and synths.

"Sower of Wind" is their 5th EP released early in 2019. It consists of 4 tracks with an overall run time of nearly 30 minutes. The tracks are named after the four directions, or the four winds and consists of development of ideas taken from the "Utopioid" album, though the band claims that it is not a companion recording for that album.

"East" starts with a dark piano riff and a drone featuring a subdued, yet wide tonal sound. Other effects and sounds swirl around the minimal beauty. Synths grow and fade, threatening to take over and drown things out, but always remaining minimal. The piano riff stops as everything else continues. When the piano returns, the riff is taken up a few octaves, but it never overpowers remaining subtle. The theme of wind carries in the way the music seems almost borne on the wind. The last minute crescendos to almost a climax then drops off leaving the piano notes still playing.

"South" has a warmer feel as a drone slowly builds, again propelled slowly by the wind. Single solitary piano and guitar notes chime over it all, softly sustained and pulled into the background drone. Harmonics echo through the wind which is portrayed by the drone layers.

"West" brings in a quiet drone with what sounds like a voice transmission kept low in the mix. The drone is a bit looser this time with different layers and harmonics coming out of the layers. The main sounds here come from electric piano and jangly, yet soft guitars. The keyboards oscillate a bit, while the guitar notes sound like brassy chimes blowing in the wind. As it fades at the end, the voice transmission is heard again.

"North" starts out the most minimal of all, but a sudden strumming of a guitar and a rumbling synth starts to come in to make you aware that it is there. Echoing keys stay subdued as effects continue. Sustained guitar chords change, but make up most of the drone in this one. Suddenly, a faster moving acoustic guitar passage plays as electric piano plays a counter passage. This sound builds slowly.

These are 4 beautifully minimal soundscapes with dark undertones and passages that threaten to become stronger, but always manage to stay soft and subdued. The four winds that are the main concept here, are never overpowering, but more like unsettling breezes, that hint at something ominous that never really happens. Those that don't like the minimal sound should probably stay away from this one, but I think the pictures painted by this experimental sound exploration are quite beautiful and descriptive. At 30 minutes, it is the perfect length if you need to go sit out a few minutes of your life to relax and unwind. Very nice!