*2023 stock* Although Emeralds originate from the same Ohio noise scene that gave birth to the likes of Leslie Keffer, Mike Shiflet and 16 Bitch Pile Up, they gradually evolved into an altogether more refined entity. The flood of synthesis and guitar sustain that consumes 'Solar Bridge' makes for a strikingly fully-formed listening experience, immersive and detailed from the outset.
'Magic' shifts from a prolonged harmonic stillness into a banquet of overtones as synth layers gradually stack up, eventually revealing watery modulations emerging from the background. 'The Quaking Mess' is a little more animated, opening up with panning high frequency blips and mutating chords that swell over the composition's fourteen minutes. Solar Bridge is a feast of top class drone and sonic mesmerism that still sounds crucial 15 years on.