I Wish I Could Speak Your Language
I Wish I Could Speak Your Language

broken house / industrial / techno / ambient

From the very first note, the debut album from I Wish I Could Speak Your Language—featuring Johan Fotmeijer of Thet Liturgiske Owäsendet and Dan Stielow Mortazavi aka Spite Cathedral takes listeners on an extraordinary sonic odyssey. Opening with "Naked Amongst Strangers" the album immerses us in a universe of dark soundscapes where cosmic interference and enigmatic voices weave a tapestry of auditory intrigue, gradually transitioning into soothing, melodic synth lines that feel both foreign and familiar.

"Hands Like Water (Atish Pare's Thirsty Remix)" follows with a relentless drive, transforming industrial techno into a pulsating behemoth of sound. In "Play House," the duo’s experimental prowess shines through as they deconstruct house music with crumbling beats and soulful yet fragmented vocals. It's a wild demolition of genre norms that invites curious ears.

As the album unfolds, the singles "Hangdog" and "A Bent In The Undergrowth" provide a lush, ambient respite. The former blurs the line between shoegaze and ambient, while the latter offers a beautiful Satie-influenced piano piece that evokes tranquility and introspection—an auditory balm for the soul. This serene voyage continues with "Grey Heavens Within Thee," casting a spell that lingers long after its final notes.

"Channel Through Me" shifts gears into a more atmospheric realm, with dub-inspired layers reminiscent of Basic Channel's deep, bass-driven soundscapes. "Split In Two Parts," with its fast-paced beats and eerie voices, pulls you into a hallucinatory experience, wrapping things up in a comforting pad of warmth.

Finally, we arrive at the album's profound conclusion with "Being A Boy Is Like Sucking On A Bitter Lemon." Here, Fotmeijer and Mortazavi craft a piece that is simultaneously noisy and ethereal—an intense exploration of sound that leaves a lasting impression, much like a final, enigmatic brushstroke on an avant-garde canvas.

Overall, this 80-plus minute debut is a testament to the duo's masterful ability to traverse and redefine electronic music’s conventional boundaries. It's an intricate, immersive experience that demands not just to be heard, but felt. For those willing to dive deep, I Wish I Could Speak Your Language offers an unforgettable exploration of sound and emotion.