Portland and D.C.-based duo Living Pictures have released their debut electronic album, Crossing the Bridge.
Portland and D.C.-based duo Living Pictures consists of driven artists and multi-instrumentalists Reif Larsen and Andrew Perreault, who have recently released their debut electronic album, Crossing the Bridge.
In Crossing the Bridge, nine cinematic tracks follow a person through their dreams as they ride the subway late at night, transitioning from one stage of life to another. Larsen and Perreault combine driving electronic grooves and evolving, cinematic ambience to create a moving soundtrack that superimposes layers of fantastic imagery over daily experiences. “The journey begins with a pair of headphones and entering the subway at night. Through nine episodes corresponding to a different place and set of imagery, the album follows this person through their dreams as the train rattles down a mysterious tunnel, a strange, psychological tunnel not shown on the map. The train guides the listener through nine different states, spanning from nostalgia, disbelief, relief, pain to joy:
“‘Persistent Dreams’ / looks forward hopefully.
‘Disbelief’ / looks away in shame.
‘No Headlights’ / revels in being unwatched.
‘The Sleepwalker’ / drifts in and out of consciousness.
‘Crystal Palace’ / looks up at the highest towers.
‘The Harbor’ / says goodbye to an old place.
‘Biodome’ / loses itself in a new place.
‘Driving in Snow’ / makes a treacherous journey.
‘Convergence’ / finds something unexpected.”
“Inspired by the music and path of Brian Eno, Nils Frahm, and Nick Cave & Warren Ellis, the album is a bit of a unique journey combining elements of ambient, electronica, and Robert McKee’s Story,” Perreault says.
The album is “a soundtrack for exploring the space between real and imaginary.” It carries a story using all kinds of sound, taking you through a multitude of experiences and emotions. Soundscapes like the opener “Persistent Dreams” are quieter and brooding, while other tracks like “No Headlights” are more upbeat and ominous. It closes with “Convergence”, which utilizes the organ in a way that pokes your brain and leaves you to contemplate what you just listened to. Living Pictures is surely a group to watch; learn more about them here.
Find this and more exciting new music on our Alchemical Multigenre Mixdown playlist on Spotify.
Emma Page, a recent Journalism graduate of The George Washington University, possesses a passion for music journalism and storytelling in all its forms. Originally from Baltimore, MD, when she is not writing, she can be found at a local concert or making music of her own.
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