Ambient electronica is a difficult thing to review. Such music tends to be more of an assemblage than a composition and often ends up leaving the listener with the feeling that they have heard soundtrack cues rather than real songs.
Indeed, that very accusation could be levelled at Laki Mera's album for there are such moments - "Signals" sounds like it would have a home on Gil Mellé's soundtrack for the film The Andromeda Strain for example. That's not to imply that what we have here is merely music for a film that never existed for great effort has clearly been made to avoid the cold sterility of music played outside the context of accompanying visuals.
The songs here work surprisingly well, dragging the listener right inside them. Part of this is undoubtedly due to Laura Donnelly's ethereal vocals. There is no lyrical majesty on show, no great poetry either but through exquisite layering and repetition, much as you would do with something destined for the dance floor, only this time it is the brain instead of the feet that is being targeted.
Interesting rhythms drive things along in a surefooted manner with echoes of Africa, Europe and dear old Scotland bouncing around amongst the post rock song constructions.
I'm trying to pick holes in this album but when it comes down to it, I can't really find any significant fault. It is simply elegant, complex and entrancing. That's all you need to know.