Various Artists - Serenity Now, Insanity Later

May 1, 2020 - Studio Barnhus

Studio Barnhus’s May compilation Serenity Now, Insanity Later comes right in what we hope is the middle of a global pandemic and not the slow-creeping beginning. Already a difficult year, Serenity Now, Insanity Later aligns itself with collectively held breath. The project displays a wide array of what the label’s artists have to offer. 

A meditative quality pervades, its unifying principle is a down-tempo easygoingness. Axel Bowman comes through with a space-cadet's sleep-away theme replete with twinkles, carefully carved out ambient white noise, and stretched out vocals. The song is aptly named ‘How to Get More Space.’  

While the compilation is enjoyable on shuffle, rewarding and mood-appropriate transitions between songs like ‘Midnight’ by Lukas Nystrand von Unge and ‘Unicorns & Drivebys’ by Pedrodollar demonstrate thoughtful curation from Barnhus. The former is a synth-plucky, grime-centric pilgrimage (which is more relaxing than it sounds.) The latter is a revamped western folk song. Pedrodollar incorporates finger-picking guitars, harmonica, and distorted vocals to bring to mind the good ole shrub and underbrush of cowboy-land.  

In ‘Between a Dream and a Hard Place,’ Ishi Vu manages to layer grinding synths over reverbed vocals to emotional effect. Not distressful, but poignant. There’s wizard talk in the song. Something we can all agree on. Gentle pads and synthetic rattling support the synth, which transitions from percussive to thematic. A truly performative and subversive piece. The styles are not limited, but they are relaxing. 

Each song has its merit. Not all are attention grabbers, but all of them find pathways towards the hopeful side of cognitive behavioral therapy and other coping mechanisms we are seeking during the difficult year we call 2020. ⛰️