Umberto’s Black Bile: An Avant-Ambient Masterpiece
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Black Bile showcases some of Umberto’s most exquisite and vibrant compositions to date. The solo project of LA-based composer Matt Hill, Umberto draws deep inspiration from cinematic elements, creating immersive narratives and rich atmospheres purely through sound. Hill is an active film and television composer, recently scoring the 2022 Jerry Pyle film Loveseat, with its soundtrack released in 2023. He also worked on the 2020 thriller Archenemy, produced by the team behind the cult classic Mandy.
Hill’s new album, Black Bile, is inspired by the ancient Greek theory of the “four humors,” which linked human emotions and health to the elements. Specifically, “black bile” was associated with melancholy and autumn. Hill’s celestial compositions reflect these themes, offering an autumnal soundtrack that conveys beauty, yearning, reflection, and comfort.
The process of creating Black Bile involved an intricate construction and deconstruction of musical elements. Hill started by improvising on the piano, searching for notes and patterns that would form the emotional and musical foundation of each piece. He often stripped back the initial structure, leaving a minimalist framework upon which he could build intricate, textural details. This meticulous attention to detail imbues his minimalist compositions with significant emotional weight.
The album places Umberto among avant-ambient boundary-pushers like Lawrence English and Laurel Halo. Each track on Black Bile is constructed from just two notes or sounds, arranged into complex patterns that pulse with an organic rhythm. The sparse melodic structures are rich with small, beautiful details, making each composition a beguiling new ambient work.
Adding to the anticipation of Black Bile’s release, Hill offers a unique companion piece, Black Bile: Variations, which will be available on September 20th. This collection reimagines elements from the original album, akin to a deconstructed LEGO set reconstructed into something new and surprising. Each song in Variations beautifully complements Black Bile, showcasing Hill’s ability to edit and merge tracks on a macro scale.
Hill’s process for Black Bile left the tracks open to be edited and merged, using specific music theory and self-imposed parameters to ensure cohesion. This approach is taken to its pinnacle in Variations, demonstrating Hill’s mastery of constructing, deconstructing, and reconstructing musical elements.
By purchasing Black Bile before August 23rd, fans will receive both the album and the Variations on release day. This dual release highlights Hill’s innovative approach to music composition, solidifying Umberto’s place in the avant-ambient genre.
Umberto’s Black Bile is not just an album; it’s a journey through emotional landscapes, carefully crafted with a blend of minimalism and rich textural details. Matt Hill’s meticulous approach to music composition, inspired by ancient theories and cinematic elements, results in an evocative and deeply immersive listening experience. With Black Bile and its companion Variations, Hill continues to push the boundaries of avant-ambient music, offering listeners a glimpse into his artistic vision.
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