Keith Berry: Viable Systems 2
VSM Theory
Anyone seduced by the swoon of Keith Berry's inaugural Viable Systems volume will be as entranced by its second. Born in 1973, the London, UK-based composer brings his refined ambient artistry to another engrossing collection, this one featuring fourteen constructions clocking in at eighty minutes and available in CD and download formats. As with the earlier set, Viable Systems 2 includes no information save track titles, each one evocative and suggestive. Texture and mood are paramount, but, as before, what impresses most are the sultry timbres Berry coaxes from his gear, whatever it might be. Lasting anywhere from one-and-a-half (“Kingdom Protista”) to twelve minutes (“Protopian Mode”), these reveries whisper, shimmer, glisten, and gleam, making for a multilayered sound design that's a consistent treat for the ears.
Of course those warbling synth tones that flood through the opening moments of “Nearest-Neighbour” might call Eno to mind, but it's almost impossible for any ambient producer's music to not suggest such affinities when the ambient output by the one-time Roxy Music dadaist is so far-reaching. Associations aside, Berry's ominous soundscape hints that the neighbour in question is probably best avoided. In keeping with its title, “Synthetic Exotica” exudes humidity, and with gauzy washes and radiant tones unfurling in slow motion, the piece seemingly conveys the experience of a heat-dazed visitor struggling to resist mental disassociation. As a title, “Air-Conditioned Eden” could be seen as a sly acknowledgement by Berry of his music's potential for evoking paradise using synthetic means.
However discombobulating a few of its tracks are, Viable Systems 2 for the most part soothes with its becalmed, meditative aura. Even “Lost Luggage,” which, given its title, one would expect to suggest distress or upset of some kind, is generally peaceful (though not without restless activity), perhaps suggesting the individual in question has opted to stoically accept the turn of events and look for a silver lining. Regardless, Berry shows himself throughout to be a master at atmosphere, arrangement, and sound design. While the pieces share certain commonalities, each registers as a self-contained mini-universe, an adventure distilled into sound. “Future Bloom” lasts a mere four minutes, for instance, but its resplendent bloom is so captivating the impression it makes remains long after it's over.October 2019