Aleph Om drops brand new album

Working under the alias Aleph Om, Alexander Brown is a musical polymath whose sonic journey over the years have seen him explore various spheres from progressive rock to post hardcore and jazz to psychedelic. Emerging as Aleph Om, a new moniker for the latest chapter of his musical adventure which stitches together the Hebrew letter א and the Hindu ॐ, he released the eponymous debut full-length record in October 2020, unveiling his new sonic vision to the world.

As Aleph Om, the Detroi-based artist uses an array of innovative hardware and recording techniques to craft intricate soundscapes that blend elements of ambient, IDM and musique concrete. Following up his first album with the sophomore record Hindsight Is later that year, he then took a hiatus from releasing music under the Aleph Om banner.

Returning earlier this year, he released three new singles in the build up to his most expansive work to date, his brand new third album titled Planes of Broken Mirrors. Created on high bias cassette tapes, the album flows across sixteen unique tracks, each a stunning journey into the depths of Aleph Om’s highly original musical universe.

Opened by “Esoteric Grocery Shopping,” the record starts off with the soft drones of hazy synths as bright textures brush the musical fabric with blissful strokes of sonic hues. Gradually expanding across over seven minutes of dreamy ambient soundscape with intricate bubbles of electronic flutters, the first song serves up a soporific listening experience that pulls you into the world os Aleph Om.

“Kicking In” follows with sparse flourishes before the soft rattle of percussion settles the track into a laid back groove and the oscillating buzz of synth lines raise the tension. Full of twists and turns, stuttered rhythm and a rising swell of dancing mechanical bleeps, it’s a superb display of the producer’s creativity and knack for crafting slick musical flow between musical ideas.

On “Done with Faith,” shimmering synths dance in the high-end before being grounded by the ethereal aesthetic of warm tones. Pattering percussive shots inject a subtle sense of pace as the piece unfolds as a hypnotic exploration of deconstructed avant-garde machine music.

Other highlights on the LP include “Every Mother Was Cradled” with its glistening dashes of airy noise and minimal arrangement that develops with the sustained stretches of distant musical drones. “Lux Hiemis Tenebris” casts a mesmeric soundscape of eerie tones as playful warbling pips adorn the track with delicate flickers.

“Simex Erasures” builds with the hushed pulse of warm synth timbre, slowly morphing into a lightly gritty vibe to provide a truly trance-inducing experience. “Ripples” offers a smooth journey into an atmospheric landscape as the ever-present whistling of silky flows and delightfully chaotic flit of contrasting sounds combine to craft a dazzling sound.

The album closes with “Unbelievable Sojourn,” bringing the release full-circle with another engrossing seven minute piece that rotates between dreamy moments of shining synths and the lively taps of percussive elements in the mid section. It’s a superb finale to a groundbreaking work of experimental instrumental music that delivers a cinematic experience that works just as well as a soundtrack to daily life as it does on active listening.

Listen to Planes of Broken Mirrors below