Mutual Expression by Rhombus Index + f5point6

See Blue Audio: ambient / electronic / beatless / cinematic / downtempo / eclectic / introspective… Shade rather than light...

‘Mutual Expression' – Rhombus Index + f5point6 (SBA #053)

For the second in the series of three f5point6 releases, R.Cleveland Aaron joins forces with Rhombus Index, another mainstay of the See Blue Audio roster. It closely follows on from ‘A World Within Our World’, and, as the title of their collaboration, ‘Mutual Expression’, suggests, this is a project based around shared methodologies and ideas, while still retaining their individual aesthetics; a reciprocal knowledge and passion for music in its myriad forms; and respect for each other’s perceptions of the world. As the fifty-third release on See Blue Audio, its radiant musical eloquence are also the perfect way to embrace the arrival of summer.

Rhombus Index is an experimental electronic musician from West Yorkshire, who draws inspiration and solace from the natural world. Multidisciplinary artist R.Cleveland Aaron, meanwhile, is a true Londoner, whose prolific portfolio in music, photography and video includes nine releases on See Blue Audio so far. The two first came into contact on ‘Kernel Phase’, the last Rhombus Index album, and as part of a reimaging of previous releases, f5point6 contributed two remixes of ‘Leptosol’ from the ‘Planar’ EP. The spark had been ignited and ‘Mutual Expression’ is the result of a shared wish to bring together their musical visions. The result is most certainly that and a whole lot more; the whole is assuredly greater than the sum of the parts.

The partnership was proposed by f5point6 following the release of ‘Kernel Phase’. The idea was to expand their creative relationship and build a full album of tracks and artwork in a collaborative manner. It’s worth noting that the cover artwork and video for ‘Floam’ were also produced together. Work began on the release in spring 2023, and there are some intriguing contrasts that accompany the creation of this nine-track album: light and dark, city and country, industrial and esoteric, glitchy atmospherics and pastoral electronica. Too much should not be made of these, but they do provide a touch of intrigue.

Their creative process began by sending outlines of tracks and fragments of sounds to each other. Stems were exchanged to build upon the material selected. The results were then sent back and forth to advance further as desired, and with some tracks this process was iterated several times to guide and develop a new and cohesive sound. Various creative tools were employed during the production process from generative sequencers and rompler synthesisers to field recordings and library sounds, while aficionados of Detroit techno and early IDM will also find much to appreciate within the intricacies of ‘Mutual Expression’.

As with both artists’ solo output, beats of multiple variations provide the foundation of the album. Layered above are a swirling maze of sonic textures, sometimes with almost wafer-thin delicacy, at others with the emotionally charged energy of the dancefloor. To reflect the beatless ethos of See Blue Audio and close ‘Mutual Expression’, ‘Return To’ was created as a cerebral ambient track which plays back echoes of the other tracks as it progresses.

The artwork and video were created in the same collaborative vein. f5point6 provided photography work that Rhombus Index used as samples in building the artwork, while Rhombus Index supplied an audio reactive geometry to f5point6 who constructed the final video.

The results are spectacular in every aspect and a tribute to the power of respect and trust. See Blue Audio is privileged to have been able to provide the channel that helped bring ‘Mutual Expression’ into life.

‘Mutual Expression’ is also available in a limited edition cassette version.

Artwork and photography: Loui Binns and R.Cleveland Aaron.

Ambient / electronic / beatless / cinematic / downtempo / eclectic / introspective... Shade rather than light... Established 2019

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