The cover of
Our Hands Against the Dusk shows a photo of two hands intertwined. One of these hands belongs to the composer and audiovisual artist Rachika Nayar, and the other is the hands of one of her friends. The image alludes to the deeply interpersonal experiences that colored the four years Nayar took writing this album. While electronic/ambient genres may seem, in some artists’ hands, as cold and clinical, Nayar’s music stems from deeply personal experiences and encounters. The music reflects that in many ways.
Our Hands Against the Dusk (the title taken from a Richard Jackson poem) manages, quite effectively, to combine sharp edges with soothing warmth. For every metallic glitch, a sustained, welcoming chord envelops the listener. Much of the music derives from Nayar’s guitar playing, which is the sonic linchpin here. On the opening track, “The Trembling of Glass”, guitar notes tap away insistently, not unlike a keyboard, sonically manipulated while ethereal chord