Album Review: Lena Raine - Oneknowing
Many of those who played Celeste, an underrated indie game released in 2018 as endearing as it is challenging, would be able to recall the pixelated, electronic score as well as they could the game's impressive visuals and gameplay. A retro throwback to tough-as-nails platformers à la Super Meat Boy, that the game is such an immersive experience is largely due to its soundtrack, weaved into the game's murky story to the extent that certain scenes were rewritten to better fit their accompanying music. Lena Raine, the composer behind such memorable tunes, had much to live up to after such a success, and the stresses that arose under such pressure fed into this, her debut album, as a way to unwind and recenter herself. As a result, Oneknowing is notably more relaxed and at ease with itself than much of the darker moments in Celeste, yet no less memorable even without a visual experience to lose oneself in.
After a brief intro of rolling bass and eerie, almost whispered sounds, Tsukuyomi establishes immediately and effectively the record's calm and atmospheric demeanor. Without any discernible lyrics, the track is still remarkably effective at evoking its intended ambiance, described by the album's liner notes as "A familiar restaurant with cozy smells". Even if the 'lyrics' uttered in a made-up language are occasionally a meandering distraction, between the plucked strings, muted keys, and vocals dipping in and out of the song, the feeling of comfort is unmistakable.
Much of the record's first half carries the undertone of a direct confrontation of Raine's most profound worries, with the shrill, string-heavy Breath almost feeling like a response to her incredibly emotional track from the Celeste soundtrack entitled Anxiety. On here that apprehension is still clearly present, yet despite the long buildup of distant synthetic strings culminating in a simple yet chilling melody, the self-assurance in the face of Raine's emotional adversity that inspired the album's music is palpable. Insomnia opens on a similarly ethereal atmosphere, only to quickly lose itself in digital noise and propellant, almost breakbeat percussion that breathes new life into the subdued undertone of dreamy electronic bliss.
This contrast between mellow and murky is, ultimately, what separates Oneknowing and the rest of Raine's work from your typical light-hearted instrumental tape: the sense that something unknown is constantly lurking beneath the surface, kept in check only by her creativity and propensity for splendor. The aforementioned liner notes alternate in their descriptions between abstract, poetic verses and references to benign past experiences, the dichotomy of which is not irrelevant to the album's moods and themes. While the aptly titled A Chance to Rest is soft, melodic, and the perfect auditory complement to a small break from life's constant turmoil, Aurora is centered around a delicate, shimmering string line, beautifully invoking what Raine describes as "A hint of the aurora borealis/shimmering beautiful/near-hidden amidst the darkness".
The recurring use of Raine's fabricated language is perhaps the record's biggest hindrance; too often the half-hearted vocal sections come off as little more than a gimmick diverting one's attention from the stellar production. Occasionally, as on Light Rail, they admittedly do function well as a nonsensical, somewhat catchy 'hook' of sorts, but far more often they appear as a detriment to the vibe of tracks like Trance State and Wake Up. Furthermore, though her style is noticeably more intricate and intelligent than the average lo-fi instrumental, Momodani suffers from a painfully bland use of drum beats, a slight stumble into the bloated realm of chillhop that the rest of the album stays far away from.
Minor hindrances are these, however, on a project that overall shows a great deal of potential. All the talent and emotional investment that made the music of Celeste such an impressive match for the game's well-crafted levels and mechanics is present here, proving beyond any doubt that Lena Raine is one of the most promising composers in her genre. Whether her next project is accompanied by another game or released all on its own, that it will be similarly enjoyable, if not more so, is almost guaranteed. Certainly there is room for growth and maturity, and not all of the ideas present on Oneknowing pan out equally well, but there is more than enough here to make for a delightful showcase of Raine's unique vision.
7/10
Favourite Tracks: A Chance to Rest, Insomnia, Aurora
https://open.spotify.com/album/1sgAanfg8fmIFXFbuPBBeO?si=GJjAslU-Sqi7v322bNBN8Q