There are drawings and paintings that resemble photographs down to the last detail. So precise that only the second or third glance makes the difference. It is similar with the works of the Munich artist Polygonia; only their works are music tracks. “I’m often asked if I used field recordings for my last album,” says Lindsey Wang, the real name of the musician. It seems likely: “Images of a forgotten world” brings together eight tracks that take the audience on a sonic journey through European forests – drawing synesthetic images of swaying oak trees and amphibians making tracks under water.
Every title is a promise: the pieces are called “Dance of the Arthropods” or “King of the Forest”. The artist suggests associations without revealing too much or being boring. Bright and open elements contrast dark and structured tunes. Sometimes the pieces are danceable, sometimes meditative – deep techno. From the chirping of birds and the sounds of aircraft to the creaking bark, Polygonia has synthesized all the sounds – technically reproducing the organic landscapes. “Some assumed that they were samples that I recorded with a portable recorder. That’s not the case,” says Wang, thereby solving the mystery of the origin of the sound elements. It creates natural moods that still sound artificial when you listen closely.
This contrast between nature and technology, which Polygonia shows with their music, is reflected in techno culture. Festivals with several thousand guests take place near forests, where pounding bass scares animals and camping waste litters fields and meadows. In the cities, clubs in concrete bunkers rob the urban party crowd of sleep – making people forget that they too are a part of nature. While Polygonia has explored environmental issues in previous work, her current album is more pressing: the tracks document the diversity of wildlife outside of cities, while the album’s title appeals to those living in apartment blocks and subway stations: “Images of a forgotten world” is a reminder. The album makes clear the transience of nature and the role of the audience in it. time to remember
Polygonia: “Images of a Forgotten World” (Huinali Recordings)