Tropical Church by Olivier Cong

 

A beautiful sonic story, a soundtrack with so many aspects to it.

"Tropical church" is a form of a travel journal to me. Inspiring and drawn from many inspirations itself. Enriched and empowered through the use of spoken word, ethnic instruments such as shakuhachi, Chinese yuan, guzheng and subtle touch of electronics, it helps you to dig deep into the nuances and subtleties of the author's journey itself.

As late Nicolas Bouvier said: “Traveling provides occasions for shaking oneself up but not, as people believe, freedom. Indeed it involves a kind of reduction: deprived of one’s usual setting, the customary routine stripped away like so much wrapping paper, the traveler finds himself reduced to more modest proportions - but also more open to curiosity, to intuition, to love at first sight.” 

and 

“That day, I really believed that I had grasped something and that henceforth my life would be changed. But insights cannot be held for ever. Like water, the world ripples across you and for a while you take on its colours. Then it recedes, and leaves you face to face with the void you carry inside yourself, confronting that central inadequacy of soul which you must learn to rub shoulders with and to combat, and which, paradoxically, may be our surest impetus.” 

The journey makes you - this album is one of the best examples of that. Its slow and serene pace is helping you to move as you need rather than should. It could be a soundtrack for anything visual or personal. Life changing perhaps but not by some sort of shock or disturbance but by a very thoughtful introspection.

bandcamp link