“Meticulous” is the adjective which first appears when trying to grasp Stuart Noble’s minimalistic and atmospheric The Orange Hypothesis‘ debut EP.

The four tracks making up ‘The Dregs Of The Storm’ establish themselves against a backdrop of modulating drones, slowly building upon one another, until a quiet crescendo is reached.

Delicately nestled amongst this blanket of drone are barely audible synths and textures. Pianos surface out of the fog, take a breath, then descend beneath again.

Softly undulating, deep techno-inspired arpeggios build and fall, and single guitar notes are plucked, dancing faintly across the hazy surface.

The mixing, courtesy of Adam Matza, breathes depth into this album. Matza allows for certain elements to be distinguishable or merge into the background of drone when required. This is really an accomplishment.

Likewise, Noble masterly toes the line between smothered walls of sound and distinct clarity in ‘The Dregs Of The Storm’. The minimalist compositions encapsulate what an ambient album should be, something which is as ignorable as it is interesting.

Attention to detail, as stated at the start of this review, is the culprit. The Orange Hypothesis provides a spectacular sonic experience. •