There aren’t many genres on the planet which might be as naturally surreal as avant-garde instrumental music is, and barely has that felt as apparent because it does in Uncountable Spheres, the brand new document from Margaret Maria and Invoice Gilliam as Marbyllia. On this document, the upstart Canadian experimentalist outfit kicks ambient melodicism up a notch with a cello-focused effort as rooted in experimentation as it’s one thing nearly neo-classical in type. Their influences are certainly on their sleeve, but when one factor is ensured from begin to end in Uncountable Spheres, it’s that listeners shall be handled to an all-original expertise via and thru.

“Stratosphere in Misery” and “Gravitational March” are extra structurally abrasive than “Unexplored Worlds,” “Exiting Exosphere” or “Our Sacred Troposphere,” however the variety of this tracklist doesn’t make it really feel like a combination tape as an alternative of knowledgeable LP. Contrarily, Marbyllia demonstrates extra versatility on this document than they wanted to, which solely provides to the concept they may do no matter they needed if given a good sufficient price range and the recording area to make it occur. Placing out music like this can result in larger and higher issues, and I’m in all probability not the primary critic to say as a lot.

It could be actually attention-grabbing to listen to a minimalist tackle “Thermospheric Drift” someday sooner or later. Remixes can provide us one other look into the artistry of a performer with out dismissing the sonic integrity of the unique doc (at the very least once they’re finished proper), and by and huge, I feel many of the materials on this LP may very well be re-stylized at a later date if Marbyllia noticed match. Invoice Gilliam particularly has obtained nothing to lose in staying on this vastly experimental trajectory, and if I have been him, I’d consider it as giving ambient followers precisely what they’re in search of this yr.

“Unexplored Worlds” in all probability didn’t want as beefy a compositional spine because it was given, however on the similar time, there’s nothing about its building that I’d deem negatively overindulgent – at the very least by trendy requirements. It could have been tougher to make a track like this work some twenty years in the past, however Marbyllia isn’t making an attempt to reboot any retro vibes right here. In the event that they have been, they wouldn’t have invested as a lot ardour, emotionality, and uncooked musical eccentricities into this combine; this duo is the actual article, which isn’t simple to come back by anymore on both aspect of the pop music universe.

Whereas it’s not essentially the most effectively made experimental document that I’ve heard in 2024, Marbyllia delivers a required acquisition for ambient addicts all over the place in Uncountable Spheres. I’ve at all times been a bit of choosy with regards to materials created inside this style, however with Uncountable Spheres, nothing feels inaccessibly intense or boastful in any respect. Marbyllia, each compositionally and as regards to their efficiency type, involves us on an even-keeled creative platform on this document, and in the event that they plan on doing the identical in a follow-up album quickly, they’re going to have my continued important and private assist all through this unfolding profession.

Mindy McCall