No Idols
Visionist
2017
As post-modernism of the late 20th century struggled with expressions of "reflexivity" and "self-consciousness" in art, it's unfortunate that by the time the 21st century has developed to its current state, "political correctness" is no longer just a term conservatives use mockingly. Considering the connection between the two, one can't help but lament that this might be an unavoidable outcome or a consequence inevitably brought about. Regardless of the process, it has culminated in the most awkward present. Whether this trend of extremism (we must acknowledge the significant influence of art on social development) or the rampant materialism gradually fostered under capitalism has caused the so-called "self-consciousness" to become a banner, with political correctness as its flapping umbrella. The core of "self-consciousness" has become a joke, and in contemporary times, this is ironic.
On that note, I appreciate Visionist (né Louis Carnell) perhaps for his reflective spirit, or what he refers to as "the artist's positional role." Unlike his 2015 album "Safe," which centred on the individual, depicting inner soundscapes and condensed bursts of anxiety, "Value" seeks to reconstruct and position a new self within a broader context—strength and weakness, self-deprecation and self-love, insecurity and confidence. It's a release and gathering of emotions while also being more fragile, building a structure between the swings of two extremes within tangible boundaries. Noise manifests in the form of heavy bass, and the cold manipulation of vocals hovers like a thread throughout the album. Visionist's strength lies in his ability to provoke and pull at the listener's nerves, making them follow along with the tension or softness—this is a deeper level of atmospheric creation beyond just auditory experience.
One of the ingenious aspects of music, my opinion, is how it reaches a certain thematic expression through the rehearsal of time, compared to the intangible nature of visual art. Visionist excels at this, as seen in the title track "Value," where in a thorny and brutal environment, the atmosphere ultimately reaches a climactic peak symbolising fulfilment. My personal favourite, "No Idols," the binary nature of the album "Value" is well reflected. Under the digital percussion, the fragile, broken piano sound reminiscent of Tim Hecker is eventually engulfed by dazzling arpeggios. However, the track's combination might not be seen as a fusion; the passive and the aggressive, the soft and the hard, form an unblended whole. The vocals behind the arpeggios in the later part contribute to the sacred quality of "softness," which I consider to be an unquestionable transcendence.
06 July 2021