Island House delivered another gem on November 7th with the release of Swim Ignorant Fire, the self-titled record by a unique trio comprised of Yea Big on gamelan bells and bass clarinet, Nate Hahn on pedal steel, and Hollinger on sp202 sampler, bass, and synths.
On the record’s first half, this mysterious trio mixes downtempo psychedelic, Polynesian tropical loops, and ambient country—a spicy blend that will bring some hazy sunshine to cure your seasonal depression.
Hints of Hawaiian jazz are added here and there, making this quite the adventurous musical expedition for a band situated squarely in the American Midwest.
By the latter part of the album, Swim Ignorant Fire expands on the styles of their EP, Glow, featuring fresh remasters and a more nuanced organic sound. The liner notes say it lands somewhere between Western Americana and a cinematic score. It includes an all-acoustic recording of “Quietly” with gamelan bells and bowed and hammered guitars performed in a bookstore.
“Quietly” reminded me quite a bit of something from the guitar duo Elkhorn, such as how the rustic guitars meld with the ambient, experimental sounds. The whole piece feels warm and alive and not too dissimilar to an Indian raga, which may also be something you’d hear from The Man From Atlantis.
“Verdita” is accompanied by a music video that’s like a psychedelic take on a Hallmark Channel movie. While the surf-rocky guitar ripples slowly and the gamelan bells chime, strange stock videos of handsome Midwesterners are intermingled with lysergic visuals and occasional clips of farm animals. It’s all very strange, and if I were watching it on acid, I imagine it would cause a harrowing trip.
The record closes with a live version of “IDKHMLCHT” with Nate Hahn, recorded in Champaign, Illinois. This track is a gentler, kinder ambient more akin to the sound-bath-oriented music that’s become so popular today.
While there are a few jarring elements in the piece, it’s mostly the kind of soft, though still experimental, ambient to close your eyes and drift away to.
Overall, Swim Ignorant Fire is a marvelous experimental ambient work that fits nicely alongside artists like SUSS, Chuck Johnson, and Luke Schneider. Take the music with you on a late autumn walk and savor the exotic sounds.
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