Establishing the mood with a cerebral strings arrangement with pizzicato detailing, Chris Ami opens his album Temperament with a track called Hubris and an iconic quote from Alan Watts as he says, “We know that we’re living in an age when there’s been an enormous proliferation of techniques for subjecting every kind of natural process to some form of rational control… And, as we succeed in doing this, it also becomes apparent that we’re failing, that the process becomes of such a high degree of complexity that we begin to feel that we’re standing in our own way. That everybody complains, the state of affairs in the modern world, in the technological world, is so complicated that nobody can understand it. Nobody really knows what to do…”
This is essentially setting the tone of the album to share that as humanity becomes more skilled at controlling nature through technology, the systems that we create grow so complex that they overwhelm us, leaving us confused and powerless.
We appreciate the meditative and introspective introduction and the philosophical depth that Chris Ami manifests with a cinematic sound design. The quote regarding transhumanism and the God complex continues from Alan Watts, whilst astral harmonies guide us with intricate high piano keys.
A subtle diminuendo closes the track as Alan Watts’ commentary continues before we experience a track titled, Nostalgia. This opens with a high emotainal quotient – panning synths and a spiritual frequency with subtle sound designs that are psychedelic in nature with celestial nuances. The percussion feels akin to a DMT trip, representative of the more transcendental energy that the album has to offer.
The hypnotic energy is mesmerizing, whilst the emergence of a piano solo feels grounded and human, intertwined with the cosmic beats and electronica. Next up is Hope, this opens with a textured energy and a repeating high note. Piano chords guide us further and we connect with the soundscape which feels fit for the score of a Darren Aronofksy film, as with the wider record. The cymbal taps add rhythm to the piece, whilst sonic switch-ups of the beat, bringing an almost soft drum and bass vibe to life are innovative. We connect with the meditative moments and the reprise into a more robust production.
Flow serves as a representation of its title and opens with wavy synths that feel like water. 8-bit rhythmic notes once again manifest with a high spiritual energy, whilst the track evokes a futuristic vibe. Spiral feels almost tribal at first with ad-lib vocalizations and a zen effect which feels perfect for a vinyasa yoga class. The futuristic energy remains strong with an industrial glitched synth and shooting astral textures evoking an almost metallic and cerebral vibe. It almost feels like a journey to out of space, the way that the synths are pitched down whilst lasers shoot feels almost graphic.
This leads us to Indecision, which opens with a more peaceful motif. Dimensional percussion elements evoke a more syncopated energy, whilst cosmic vocalizations create notions of sonic calm. It is the juxtaposition of sounds here which make the composition feel highly unique and expansive. Again with cosmic ebbs and flows, guiding us to a euphoric glistening moment akin to an ascension – it feels revitalising and healing.
Between is minimalist at first, but expands with Chris Ami‘s signature sounds for Temperament in to a poetic and graceful timeline. The build is gentle, and this is also the longest track on the album. There is a serenity that unfolds – this feels welcome and meditative. We appreciate that the entire album is a journey.
Speaking on the record as a whole, Chris confesses, “Each track carries a single-word title drawn from emotional and psychological territory — creating a deliberate narrative arc from confrontation through vulnerability, release, and resolution.”
The cerebral moments within Between feel like a moment from a movie like Interstellar, and the hardpan-esque details add a conscious element to the piece. Waiting (Seventeen Revisited) opens with an orchestral vibe, again peaceful in sentiment, and timeless in its construction. The piano performance also adds nostalgia and cements the cinematic allure and meditative heart centre of the entire record.
Finally, we experience Drift which opens with panning synths and vocalizations, a brooding bass tone emerges and static textures tap into that industrial universe that Chris Ami brings to life with this album. The pulsating details are sublime, whilst the riffs that emerge and subside add drama to the piece. There is no doubt that fans of Bonobo, Jon Hopkins, Burial, Amon Tobin, and Floating Points would be able to connect with Temperament, although it is clear that Chris Ami is a master of his own design.
The build of Drift is magnetic and emotional. It feels anthemic before subsiding momentarily and rebuilding into a poetic and dreamlike ascension state of euphoria that closes the track and the album as a whole.
Needless to say, we are in awe, and have added Hubris to our New Music Spotlight playlist, and our TIMELESS and TRIPPY playlists, whilst we continue to stream the entirety of the record, and anticipate future releases from Chris Ami. All streaming links can be found here.