When I Dissolve by Jana Irmert

 

Jana Irmert takes on the challenge to create a soundtrack for a hybrid documentary by Henrike Meyer's auto-fictional narrative ''To be an extra'' - depicting the author in her struggle to create a  feature length film - showing also the inside and out analysis of the industry, film sets and tv shows.

Right from the start - you are being confronted by the subtle sub-layering of the textures which is far more interesting than asking yourself - what kind of genre this soundtrack is. Obviously as all the soundtracks you can ask yourself whether it can exist without the source material - in this case the narrative of the movie itself.

But strangely enough it does very well without it - the mysterious, hidden syntaxes and the contents of the subtle odds, waves, ebbs that are not that abstract as they are moved into the territory of deeper realignment of emotions.

The emotive language that Jana uses on this album is just immense - you have to let yourself go and see how it sways you. And it is way beyond the construct of the abstract experimentation. When I was listening to it, it reminded me both of some more austere terrains that Al Margolis created in 1980's. It has this lo fidelity but underneath it there is so much more. The mixing plays also a very important role here.

It's definitely a beautiful craft, created with intuition and discipline but also a sensual navigation beyond the rigid abstract.

Jana Irmert is a Berlin-based sound artist and composer who works across spatial composition, film soundtracks and live performance, often exploring the borderline between musical sound and noise through extensive experimentation with field recordings. Examining temporality and impermanence in times of ecological crisis, she creates "atmospheric audiovisual and sonic spaces that work with dis/harmony in such a way as to mirror our imperfect world at the moment" (Toneshift).

She has released music on Fabrique Records, Important Records and Longform Editions. Jana's music and sound design for feature films, documentaries, VR experiences and video installations has received multiple nominations and awards. She has presented her music in North America and across Europe including Atonal Berlin Festival, Extreme Chill Festival in Reykjavik, INA grm Focus series, Fylkingen Stockholm, Fluc Vienna and blurred edges festival Hamburg. 

Released October 25, 2024

Produced, mixed and performed by Jana Irmert

Mastered by Philipp Rumsch

Dolby Atmos Mix and Master by Philipp Rumsch

Artwork by Julie Calbert

Bandcamp Link