Ryan Farish Brings Warmth with ‘Embers And Light’

Ever-vigilant producer Ryan Farish brings warmth and feel-good moods to the forefront with his latest album, Embers And Light.

Decades come and go. Talents rise and fall. Ryan Farish persists. Take in the milestone that he just released his 24th album in the last two decades. He may not have the big room name, but the talented producer never ceases to crave sonic wonders. Originally from Norfolk but now residing in Los Angeles, Ryan Farish’s ever-sharp sound remains a rock in the seas of mediocrity. That creative anchor continues with another flag pole to guide us on in Embers And Light.

If you are not familiar with Ryan Farish’s work so far, note that he sails on his own ship. Blending the melodic goodness of trance and progressive house, the broken-beat beauty of downtempo, and the creative sounds from film scores, his stewardship of sonic beauty exists without a common parallel. In fact, it is on Embers and Light that Ryan Farish treads into a less familiar space. Ethnic elements flare to life in this artist’s album – whether it’s using something like an Irish fiddle, capitalizing on the childlike wonder of a toy piano, or diving into other unique moods – it’s clear that he is not slowing down.

All that said, let us dissect it a bit deeper as we explore the 14-song sonic tapestry from the brain of Ryan Farish. This exploration is less focused on musicality and more on moods and energy. It just feels more appropriate to tackle the album in the sphere of feelings instead of worrying about the technical aspects. There may be some in this discussion, but instead, let us focus on how the energy flows in this work.

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Embers And Light ignites with “Truth And Light.”

Ryan Farish sets the atmospheric table with a blend of broken beats and snappy synthesizers that playfully recall innocence and wonder. This mood is notably the whimsy and fantasy of a child seeing the starry night sky for the first time, experiencing the awe that is everything all at once. That wonder becomes tinged with the fear of darkness though – as we saunter into the beats of “Born.”

“Born” evokes the block percussion of Odesza – hard rhythmic elements drive this one forward, while the influence of LoFi’s short vocal sampling plays out by jumping into the mix at unexpected moments. If the two tracks truly set the table, Ryan’s journey showcases not only artistic growth but a desire to blend styles even greater than he has before.

“Skylight” then opens us up to classic vibes – playing with synths that evoke the best of synthwave or chillwave. If you have ever enjoyed the sounds of the Electronic Gems YouTube channel, this one feels right at home with the style they make famous. Warm lush airy pads sparkle over the smooth keys of the melody before giving way to our next track “Sublime.”

“Sublime” tailors back the unfamiliar for the familiar. The bass-driven broken beats of Ryan’s old works really come to life, along with a subdued sense from the melody – which feels somewhat melancholic. If anything surprises us, it is the use of the vocal elements – which returns us to the early 2000s and the rise of New Age. Think Enya, Enigma, or the Pure Moods compilations, and the reference makes easy sense.

“Wilderbloom” sets up the next arrangement of this album.

Darker atmospheric elements – think soft rain percussion and long strings – evoke a new beginning, before being transitioned into guitars that seep into the cracks in one’s headspace. This is another tune that evokes Odesza again – albeit not in their bombastic tracks, but in their atmospheric moments. There is even the tenderness of Flight Facilities mixed into this track’s style. “Underwater” dives listeners into deeper spheres of sound. Powerful low-end swells collide with the dazzling keys of the melody, snaps, and lush waves of pads to captivate the mind’s eye.

“Mountain Air” expresses the same vibes that make Lindsey Stirling famous – ethereal timeliness and expressive strings and piano work bleed coldness into the work. The crispness breathes into the ear space with simplicity and bliss. “Campfire” shares a unique vocal hum, combined with multilayered strings to evoke singing around a campfire with friends.

“Skyward” brings us back to the childlike wonder. Here, the stars shine above in the twilight sky, surrounded by the strings and percussion that permeated the earlier atmosphere of the album. Stronger still is the lulling waves of smoothness in the sonic tapestry – which give way to the soft tones of a piano and the echoing fills as we enjoy the spectacle of the mind’s eye.

“As Sure As The Sun Rises” reminds us too that things are a cycle – that each day is a renewal.

Here – simplicity rains key. The piano casts the rays of light with the warmth of airy and lush pads before a core melody grabs the ears – again evoking the synth work of chillwave’s best tracks. “Breathe In This Moment” captures the same and carries it onward from the track prior. A reflective moment, the song reminds the mind and the soul to just stop and take in what’s around you at any given time. Breathe – it will come in, and it will go out, passing as fleeting as a leaf captured on the breeze.

“Reverie” guides us to the last dance – that moment by the fire where we dance under the sea of stars, we laugh, and we challenge the memories into stone. Here, broken beats return in force, kicking up the dust of the present to remember it forever in the future. The string work here evokes a bit of the mood of Celtic music as well – welcome and inviting in its joy and sorrow.

“See You Again” escalates the memories towards farewell – not in a melancholic manner, but in the moment of separating towards our different ways and means of being. Maybe we travel home, with a driven beat to keep our pace. Maybe we take to the rails or the skies, with the upbeat notion that nothing truly ends, it just guides us onward by impacting the soul of who we are.

Finally “Floating” gives us the final moments of Embers And Light. The sharp percussive effects, the winding vocal elements, and the soft melodies combine with deep sub-bass and bass elements to capture the ear’s attention. If anything, this one feels a bit out of place at the album’s end. It’s a good track, but the atmosphere’s timing and the style don’t sync as well with the rest of the tracks. The little arpeggios or gated synth lines though are a fun if subtle element.

Ryan’s polish on Embers And Light should not be a surprise to those exposed before.

The album is gorgeously crafted and creates mental images throughout by exposing both the sonic tapestry of his art and his ever-evolving talents. Embers And Light represents a growth in Ryan’s stylistic development as well, as it feels more beat focused than his prior melody-driven efforts. That does not diminish from the melodies here – they play with airwaves and atmospheres within the listener’s head brilliantly. Grab yourself a copy of Embers And Light and challenge yourself from the big club-driven styles of electronic music to explore the wilds beyond.

Ryan Farish – Embers And Light – Tracklist:

Truth And Light

Born

Skylight

Sublime

Wilderbloom

Underwater

Mountain Air

Campfire

Skyward

As Sure As The Sun Rises

Breathe In The Moment

Reverie

See You Again

Floating

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