One could be forgiven for thinking that David Wenngren, of Library Tapes, and Canadian sound artist Christopher Bissonnette, would make a dream collaboration. Their first release together, The Meridians of Longitude and Parallels of Latitude is a beautifully realized mixture of drone and the purest ambient. Their own distinctive sounds are blurred on the album, creating entirely new atmospheres, and both sides are present. David Wenngren’s work here uses field recordings and minimal experimental aspects; natural field recordings, static pops, and experimental hiss are featured, instead of the piano predominantly used in Library Tapes’ music. What we find in this collaboration, and maybe what is expected, are colorful, bright textures and light drones.
Like the cover art suggests, this is a warm, autumnal record – like a breezy September day before the winter chill takes hold. There is a shimmering quality present throughout, and it creates a hypnotizing effect. Bissonette’s natural ambient architecture appears to be the most prominent feature at first glance, but take a closer listen and Wenngren’s contribution also stands out, although it is a subtle, yet effective presence; both artists operate on different levels. The photography used represents the sounds perfectly: a blurry, bright, and lucid landscape as seen from above, a moment in time captured forever. The record feels like it’s in a continual dream; the ever-shifting nature of the drones feels alive and illuminates a bright brilliance. Only a few in the ambient field can truly reach a depth present here, and many can’t entice as effectively.
The winds of static and the warm seasonal tones reveal an active sound, one that is always progressing – if drone had a fast forward button, it would probably sound like this. Like the landscape from our photograph, the colors and qualities are always changing, if only subtly, and each track has its own unique mood, a snapshot. The contrasts in tone and experimentation help create substantial diversity. “A Deceptive and Distant Howl” sets the tone with a warm drone next to a dusting of crackles, and “Burn Like A Meteor And Leave No Dust” has powerful winds similar to a tropical storm and the rhythm of ocean waves before it is overwhelmed by static and turns grainy.
One critical aspect that makes this collaboration a success is that both Weengren’s and Bissonette’s individual sounds don’t overshadow one another. The Meridians of Longitude and Parallels of Latitude is a perfect blend of each artist’s take on ambient music. “Their Hunted Expression,” featuring distant, diluted drops of rainfall, makes a lasting impression and acts as an effective closer. While it can’t be said that the listener hasn’t been here before, the quality is high and there are no faults for what it does. An impressive organic depth exists that leaves both artists’ fingerprints firmly present, and it matches the quality of many of their standalone releases. This is as ambient as it gets in its very nature, and it is a gorgeous album that will leave the listener bathed in a warm afterglow, for one moment only – the feeling when the clouds lift and true beauty is revealed. Like the blurry photo, this record is that moment in time.
– James Catchpole
Christopher Bissonnette 