The most recent 3-track offering from music producer/video director Charles F. Moreland III entitled ‘Trails of Light’ is a delicate demonstration of the artistry of his craft. The EP is a pastiche of rich field recordings, analog drum machines, modular synth patches, and lofi tape dreaminess that combine to paint utterly surreal and sublime soundscapes.
‘Puja’, the inception of CFM3’s latest Trails of Light EP gives an atmospheric and auspicious awakening to the collection of music. The clutter of bells from a himalayan Shiva Temple deep in the mountains of Nepal transports the listener to the transcendentally hypnotic beat that follows. The drum machine, modular synths, upright bass & tanpura blend with handrums to create a chill but lively downtempo electro-acoustic track. The lead melody straight out of a bollywood action movie is provided by the tunga, a handmade Nepali stringed instrument.
Next, ‘Trails of Light’ fades in with mysterious glockenspiel samples stretching and washing out the vintage analog vibes. Glitchy modular synth arpeggios ratchet the listener through thick fogs of moody soundscapes created by mellotron strings. The beat and bass guitar drop emotional burdens supported by the pillowy synth undertow. Melancholy melodic dreams float the audience high above their consciousness while listening to this beautifully dark organic trip-hop instrumental.
The third and final chapter of Charles F. Moreland III’s Trails of Light EP is the hauntingly elegant but moody track ‘Neighbor Kids’. Piano and 80’s synths establish the scene that methodically deteriorates into deviant drum-machines and irregular modular synth arpeggios. By the time the tape-laden lofi lead synth joins, the phantasmagoric setting has already been established. The short respite of relief melts into the outro of field recordings. From here lofi vibes sail past the neighbor children playing out the window and high above the clouds where the album ends.