Oliver Coates’ “Throb, Shiver, Arrow of Time”: An Auditory Journey Through Memories and Emotions
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Oliver Coates’ third album on RVNG Intl., Throb, Shiver, Arrow of Time, is a profound exploration of memory and emotion. Assembled over six years, this album continues the intricate string modulations and metallic textures familiar from Coates’ earlier work, while reflecting his recent ventures in film scoring for Aftersun, The Stranger, and Occupied City. The album’s core is “Shopping Centre Curfew,” a track inspired by the demolition of the Elephant and Castle shopping center and a proposed curfew during the pandemic lockdowns. This piece serves as a foundation, exploring themes of temporal entropy and emotional dissonance through a blend of real-world events and dream-like reflections.
The album’s ten compositions feature weightless melodies and drone-soaked shudders, enhanced by contributions from collaborators like Malibu, Chrysanthemum Bear, and Faten Kanaan. Coates’ work is deeply influenced by Sarah Sze’s intricate installations, blending live acoustic takes with digital processes to create a textured and immersive sound. The cello, a melancholic instrument with an ethereal spirit, is central to Coates’ sound, undergoing digital manipulation to evoke a sense of weathering and timelessness. This sculptural approach to music results in a dynamic interplay between analogue warmth and digital clarity, pushing the boundaries of contemporary experimental music.
Throb, Shiver, Arrow of Time culminates in the track “Make It Happen,” embodying a reluctance to let the album conclude, striving to push its colors beyond structural confines. This album, set for release on October 18, 2024, on vinyl, Japanese import CD, and digital platforms, captures the fleeting beauty of memory and emotion. A portion of the proceeds will benefit The Traditional Music and Song Association of Scotland, supporting the preservation and participation in Scotland’s traditional music and culture. Experience this masterful work that encapsulates the ethereal and the tangible, offering a journey through the landscapes of sound and memory.
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