Loula Yorke - Hydrology

A Closer Listen

Loula Yorke’s Hydrology is an effortlessly flowing universe of modular synthesis. Deeply rooted in the essence of water as a starting point, the six pieces on the album explore fluidity in different forms and atmospheres, always true to Yorke’s unique and personal live expressive canvas. 

From the circular mantra of the opener “SICL,” we are smoothly and progressively spiraling from the outer limits of the album towards the denser compositional artery of “Gleam” where whispering and at times manipulated voices form a backdrop for the tonal fluctuations of the repetitive synthesizers that zoom in and out like watery particles gleaming in the dark. 

The reverberant and spacious production of the album allows for a clean and transparent listening experience. Each piece gives way to the other building up the cohesive microworld of “Hydrology”. The rhythmic motion of “Fontana” blends perfectly with the watery sounds and the glitch micro breakbeats of “Walberswick Breaks”. As the piece progresses the element of the water becomes more audible in real form as we hear the waves crashing against the shore.  The seascape atmosphere is broken by the high fluidity of “Flumen” before it gives way to the slow, meditative closing piece “Pressure Wave”.

 Hydrology as a whole follows a quite austere, almost minimalist line of improvisation, focusing on different characteristics of water, as interpreted by Yorke. From the metaphorical to the physical to the imaginary, the six pieces in the album flow seamlessly as if we witness Yorke experimenting in her studio, performing, trialling, listening, and reacting in vivo.  (Maria Papadomanolaki)