BILO 4.0

This BILO IV album is a little bit different from the previous three by DMM. The first half of the piece is quite slow and evolving, and might remind one of a Studio Ghibli movie soundtrack. The album is full of airy sections with minimalist content and a lot of texture and is continuous for most of the tracks. However, the first half of the album doesn't contain any lyrics, as it's preparation for the second part of the album. Take tracks like "of grief-Fading Memories" for example, to understand how breathy this album is. An impressive quality of the album is its dynamic range. Listening in a loud environment, you will find yourself dialing the volume frequently, so listening in a quiet environment will benefit a more therapeutic sensation. The second part (starts at "Away") is the more turbulent part of the album, while still preserving the fantastic sophistication of the first part. The piano in "Cry," for example, might remind one of piano pieces by Bela Bartok. The LoFi style of "of hope" is a cool addition as well. As for the theme, the album narrative is cohesive, and a direct continuation of BILO III with a more individual experience orientation. The longing in "Cry" is probably related to the death of David's mom, and the lyrics of "Are We There Yet?" along with the soundscapes (water boiling in kettle-like sounds at "Fading Memories," family dinner sounds at "Are We There Yet?") indicate a strong mindfulness-relationships importance in the message of the piece.

Overall, this album is the best DDM has introduced yet, and deserves a place of honor as the first album of his ever printed on vinyl.