Sargassum Aeterna is a rare vinyl edition from the prolific Serb/Croatian artist Manja Ristić, known for her solo and collaborative releases on labels such as LINE, mappa, tsss tapes, wabi sabi, and others. Set in a divided post-apocalyptic future, the album features four expansive soundscape compositions that allow us, between acousmatic events and subtle yet dramatic electronic treatments, to travel to the last sanctuary of that not-too-distant possibility for our planet. Ristić's compositional approach often involves the use of hydrophones and contact microphones to capture the nuanced interplay between natural elements and man-made environments. In works like Dobra voda, she records the movement of pebbles on the sea bed, water sliding down rocks, and the sounds within piles of dry Posidonia oceanica, creating a dronesque metaphor of passing time.
In Sargassum aeterna, Ristić continues this exploration, crafting a sonic narrative that reflects on ecological themes and the delicate balance of our planet's ecosystems. The album invites listeners into a meditative space where the boundaries between the organic and synthetic blur, encouraging deep listening and reflection.