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Tune of the Week: Telephones – Expanse

Vibe Telemetry was slept on massively when it was released towards the end of 2016, with Telephones showcasing frenzied melodies, polyrhythms and pleasing harmonies influenced by the world over, which I think the artwork depicts wonderfully.
There are serene moments in this album such as the aptly named Expanse, which starts off as a hollow and vast ambience, with the only slightest sense of melodic harmony being the resolution of a repeating appoggiatura. Gradually more layers are added culminating in a thicker soup of sound.
This piece, and in fact the entire album, borrows noises from the rainforest and incorporates them to create imagery. Faint flowing water, rustling leaves and insect calls can be heard, although I am not so sure if that is exactly what these sounds are; I suspect this ambiguity is intentional and leaves the listener to interpret the music.
The subtle growth of textures and timbres throughout make for a delightful listening experience to wallow in. I find that on multiple listens I pick up a feature that I had not previously paid attention to – an acknowledgement to the intricacies that are present due to thoughtful composition.