Opening Scene by Aire

Spanish producer Aire presents his sophomore album Opening Scene. Since his 2018 debut on formative experimental grime label Glacial Sound, Aire has spent his time composing music for a wide range of national dance performances (Notably at the Teatros del Canal in Madrid and the Museum of Contemporary Art in Barcelona (MACBA). Over this time he has vastly expanded his sonic palette, adding a plethora of live instrumentation into his raw and emotive sound into his personal work.

Thematically, Opening Scene explores the emotional depth of human connection; its cracks, failures and the resilience built from them. Through a fusion of classical and modern styles assisted by string performers Andrea Amador & Asia Jimenez & vocalist Sunny Graves, the album captures the vulnerable and tender relationships that give oneself stability.

Tracks such as Handkerchief and The Exposition exemplify Aire’s blending of orchestral elements with contemporary production, simultaneously fusing both a minimalist and maximalist approach to his sound. These contrasts evoke a constant undercurrent of anticipatory anxiety, reflecting the push-pull of breakdowns and breakthroughs that happen throughout life. Each track is a vivid portrait of emotional complexity acknowledging the unspoken gaps in communication while offering quiet resilience, suggesting that even in moments of fragility, there’s always forward momentum.

The artwork created by the artist Juaki Pesudo, a close friend and collaborator, utilises rain and the elements influencing the ink on the canvas to distort over time. It is a bold yet delicate composition that perfectly encapsulates the album’s textures.

Experimental Verse

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