The worlds of classical and electronic music, of traditional orchestral sound and digital creativity, might seem, to some, to be at opposite ends of the spectrum, but of course, that is to look at music all wrong. Music is, after all, about ideas, rather than instruments, those being merely the tools you choose to realize your sonic vision, something that becomes clear as soon as you step into the world of Margaret Hermant and her debut album, Freedom.
A graduate of the Royal Conservatory of Brussels, a collaborator with musicians across the musical spectrum, a founder member of the globally renowned new music ensemble Echo Collective, and composer of film scores, Hermant has constantly moved between worlds. Freedom feels like the culmination of all of those journeys.
“A Leap into Silence,” which opens the album, is built around a shimmering harp progression, at first unadorned but slowly joined by increasingly dense synth textures, like sonic fog delicately floating in to fill the space behind it. As the groove rises, the track then explodes, although in a wonderfully controlled manner, into a booming and anthemic presence. A lot can happen in just one track.
“Timeless” is a brace of songs that explore a lot of territory in their fairly brief existence. Part 1 is a neat blend of the ambient electronic world and deft neo-classical arrangements and Part 2 takes that sound into a darker, more fractured place, a place where post-classical music and post-apocalyptic dread seem to combine. (There is also an orchestral take of this, a version that adds dynamic and depth to the piece.)
By contrast, “A Dive into the Open” runs on cascades of harp notes and brooding background textures, with chiming strings balancing out the depth-charge sounds that boom and drone behind. Opposites attract, as the saying goes.
More than just a collection of sonic ideas and filmic instrumental tracks, Freedom is a place where sonic worlds collide, and for every nod to tradition, there are two or more steps into the future. For every piece of analog and orchestral artistry, there is the same amount of dexterous digital moves.
Freedom is nothing less than the sound of past music styles combining with cutting-edge technologies to create a glimpse of the future. And what a vision it is.
