Ambient tracks don’t need to be long in order to be effective, a lesson that Norwegian duo Metatag takes to heart. Transmission eschews conventions of traditional song structure, shoehorning 20 tracks into the space of an hour. These “ambient vignettes” are forced to make an impact in a short period of time, and they succeed. The title is apt: in the post-everything haze of modern life, we flick between frequencies like a late night radio transmission. Metatag realizes that our attention spans are waning, and that we now adhere to a different sonic aesthetic.
Metatag’s strength lies in the juxtaposition of light and dark hues. “One Dream Lost One Dream Found” begins in melodic delay, then pitches dubbier sounds into the mix. “Message” and “Meridian” each display an exciting sense of opacity, while “Day One” revels in arpeggio. The bass on certain tracks – “Trace” in particular – prods the set in the direction ambient techno, which works even without the beats.
The lack of percussive interruption ensures that listeners are freed to focus on timbre. What impresses most is the variegated mood pincered throughout the collection. In lesser hands, these sonic swings might sound forced, but Metatag pull it off, in great part due to the occasional presence of guitar and piano. This is a feat beyond metaphysics, worthy of universal applause. (Mick Buckingham)
a closer listen 