Low Lumens - Dawn/Dusk [CD]

Low Lumens is the moniker for the Pittsburgh based artist and musician Danny Bracken. His creative practice explores interactions between video, sound, and physical space, ranging from immersive, multi-sensory installations to small-scale sculptures. Born into a family of musicians, sound occupies a central role in his work; taking the form of film scores, installations, and stand-alone recordings. At the heart of these investigations lies an interest in the relationship between humans, the natural world, and technology. Throughout the work he explores the ways in which technology has shifted how we perceive and experience the people and places that surround us. Bracken's music further extends this dialogue, examining the tenuous balance between digital possibility and human impression, created in a context that is constantly shifting between analog and digital realms. The release of Dawn/Dusk is a combination of two four-song EPs that Bracken wrote and recorded between 2013-14. The all-instrumental Dawn/Dusk has moving, electronic melodies interspersed with synthetic percussive sounds, rhythms, and patterns. Dawn/Dusk sees Bracken pushing boundaries, playing between the borders of what we consider beautiful or abrasive, and testing how far a listener is willing to be pushed before losing interest. Composed almost exclusively with digital tools, Dawn/Dusk reflects the artist's curiosity about how technology can be used for expression, while still retaining a human quality. The music of Dawn/Dusk is woven with influence from early Morr Music label releases, múm, The Books, Efterklang, Björk, Jon Hopkins, and Four Tet, with a slight melodic nod to Bracken's musically formative experiences in the band Anathallo.