It comes with the territory. The harshness of noise, the unbearable coldness of industrial music, and the vastness of dark ambient naturally combine with the most visceral and dark themes. Uboa’s 2019 opus, The Origin of My Depression, weaponized these sonic arsenals to weave a story of the personal struggle of artist Xandra Metcalfe with transitioning and dealing with mental health. The result was a labyrinthine record, defined by the most meticulous of collages, but also one of raw emotion. It is a tall order following such a work, yet Impossible Light succeeds in the most unlikely ways.
But, first things first. Sonically, Impossible Light is the natural continuation of The Origin of My Depression. The ethereal presence is pivotal, its formless nature defining the start of “Phthalates.” It harmoniously reflects a light source in the sound waves, much like a beam is reflected on the surface of a pristine, plastic object. Untouched and perfect, Uboa soon crashes it to smithereens, as the noise is injected deeply. It causes the surface to cave in, the pliable form bending unnaturally to this assault. It is a transformative process but does not always need to be harsh. “Endocrine Disruptor” instead turns the ambiance around, providing an uncanny dark ambient twist. In a more subdued manner, the same transformation is achieved through understated notions in “Jawline,” where the backing voices enhance this sinister edge.
This is still happening on the surface. The descent proves more extreme. The flourishes on top of the ambient presence provide a gateway. The plucked instrumentation of “Endocrine Disruptor” and “Pattern Screamers” craft a dreamscape. Suddenly the abstract space is given form, with the acoustic guitar in “Sleep Hygiene” reaching for more conventional implementations. This is where it all comes toppling down as post-metal and doom forms join in. The second half of “Endocrine Disruptor” embraces this essence, offering a filthy rendition, not unlike the ones found in the works of Dark Buddha Rising. The combination of meditative and heavy clicks, but this is again only one of many faces.
The mutation of electronic components into new forms defines much of Impossible Light. On one hand, it is possible to craft a post-club setting. “Gordian Worm” sees the industrial backbone evolve to a techno-esque motif, borrowing elements from EBM to build on its dark and futuristic self. On the other hand, the noise applications might have been teased through the opening track, but they come in full force with “A Puzzle.” It is a rendition that gets crazier and crazier, and the extreme goal is only reached when the spirit of Merzbow and Masonna is channeled to produce “Weaponised Dysphoria.”
Still, for all its oppressive sounds, its Daedelian structures, and dark themes, there is one area where Impossible Light differentiates itself from Uboa’s previous works. As unthinkable that might be, that is hope. The density and multi-faceted perspective of The Origin of My Depression is crushing, leaving no room for any craving or desire. It is all nulled and final. But, it is a process that has imbued Metcalfe with mental fortitude. In that way, even if Impossible Light might not embrace this notion of hope, it points toward something aspirational.
