Closer

The 2024 album Closer by BODYXVIII is a meticulously crafted nine-track exploration of dark ambient and drone, released through the Vilnius-based label Amulet of Tears. This project is the work of Melbourne-based sound collagist Craig McWhinney, who utilizes the release to further his investigation into shadowed soundscapes and submerged intensity. Recorded with a focus on a certain quiet elegance, the album effectively bridges McWhinney's Australian roots with the atmospheric rigors of the Lithuanian experimental scene. Sonically, Closer relies on a dense inertia of drones and throbbing hums, often side-stepping the artist's techno-leaning history in favor of abstract, site-specific field recordings. The output is characterized by a strange stillness, evoking imagery of faceless monoliths and weathered textures through its minimalist sound design. Available in vinyl, cassette, and digital formats, the record stands as a significant contribution to the year’s landscape of experimental electronics. Ultimately, Closer provides a visceral experience of proximity, marking a sophisticated evolution in the artist’s discography of audio collages.