Pulse Emitter joins the Aguirre catalogue with a stunning new album full of clear cosmic tones for the new space age. Aeons, as the title suggests, is about different periods in time—a sonic journey that spans from ancient earth to distant futures where consciousness transcends physical form. This ambitious conceptual framework provides the foundation for one of the most compelling entries in the Portland-based artist's extensive catalog. Daryl Groetsch, the visionary behind Pulse Emitter, began working with synthesizers while in music school during the 1990s and adopted the Pulse Emitter moniker in 2003. His approach involves creating synthesizer pads and patterns that drift through cosmic and nature settings, establishing him as a distinctive voice within the contemporary ambient and electronic music landscape. A veteran of the noise scene of the mid-2000s, Groetsch's music has evolved toward something more melodic and layered in recent years, with Aeons representing the culmination of this artistic development. The album's four compositions each represent distinct temporal epochs, creating a narrative arc that moves through deep time with remarkable conceptual coherence. "Pangaea" evokes ancient earth, conjuring the thick mist of Carboniferous rainforests and the geological processes that shaped our planet's earliest landscapes. "Hermits" draws inspiration from a panel of the Ghent Altarpiece, representing Renaissance Europe with subtle suggestions of organ fugue and medieval mysticism woven into its electronic textures.
"Spaceship" propels listeners into the future, while "Immortality" ventures into an even more distant tomorrow where consciousness has been uploaded to computers and humanity exists without physical bodies. This progression creates what one reviewer described as "a pendulum swinging with increasing amplitude," moving from recognizable historical periods into increasingly abstract temporal territories.
The album showcases Groetsch's mastery of modular synthesis, utilizing a carefully selected array of instruments including Ensoniq VFX-SD, Oberheim OB-8, and custom modular DIY systems, processed through Lexicon PCM 80 and Arion SAD-3 effects units. This technical setup enables the creation of what the artist describes as "personally-sourced visions of synthesised eternities," where evolving cyclical sequences form the backbone of each track, creating tonal structures around which washes of pads and chaotic patterns form and decay.
Groetsch exhibits remarkable sonic lucidity throughout Aeons, demonstrating what reviewers have noted as "solid control of his instrument" and an ability to maintain "strong forward momentum through the work." The album's tight textural palette never feels restrictive, instead providing a coherent sonic environment within which each composition can develop its distinct temporal character.
The visual presentation of Aeons features artwork by Caroline Teagle, whose work provides an appropriate aesthetic complement to the album's cosmic and temporal themes. The limited edition of 400 copies pressed on 180-gram vinyl ensures optimal audio quality for experiencing Groetsch's detailed electronic landscapes.
* Mastered by Daryl Groetsch
* Artwork by Caroline Teagle
* Pressed on 180gr. vinyl
* Limited edition of 400 copies
