Low Light Dreams

Album Review

For Low Light Dreams, as frequently occurs with great albums, the title is a perfect nod to what lies inside. The debut from New Zealand producer Signer is ethereal and phantom-like; "Building Memories Without You" alternates a slowly moving haze of gauzy synth with a heartbeat drum track that occasionally sounds as though it were occurring in a different room from the rest of the production. Most of the tracks have a rhythm section referencing the starkness of German dub minimalism (simple claps, a four-four groove, deep basslines, sampled ambience triggered and re-triggered again), but they also possess a relaxed vibe gained from textured guitar and a bare few well-placed synthesizer textures. It's an Ulrich Schnauss production with a touch less ennui, and also a touch less character; but it's discreet music whose lack of personality is more a sign of courage than a lack of talent.