Music Spot: Heinali – Anthracite

Each month we shine the spotlight on one SoundGym member by reviewing one of their tracks for our Music Spot feature. This month we focus on ‘Anthracite’, the new single from @Oleg Shpudeiko, also known as Heinali.

Heinali has been honing his skills in the areas of electronic and electroacoustic music since 2003, and has carved himself out quite a reputation in the process. As a producer, he has worked on a fascinating range of projects, with a broad range of both musical and non-musical collaborators. He has composed music for art installations, has collaborated with poets and choreographers, and last year he composed the acclaimed soundtrack for PS4 video game ‘Bound’; a score that featured in FACT Magazine’s best video game soundtracks of 2016 list.

‘Anthracite’ is an exercise in slow-burning, ambient mood-building. As in many of Heinali’s pieces, looping and distortion are at the center of his sonic experimentation. Wave upon wave of repetitive synths build, modulate and merge over the track’s eight and a half minutes. Sounds develop slowly; gradually, gently revealing themselves over extended periods of time. The piece builds and builds in intensity before slowly, very slowly, ebbing away. 

Like all the best ambient music, this is a track to get lost in, a piece of music that causes you to lose track of time as it draws you in. An excellent piece of work, and a great jumping off point for exploring Heinali’s back catalogue. 

Visit Heinali’s website here