IONOPHORE: “Bedim” Premiered At Captured Howls; Ambient Trio Formed By Members Of Vastum, Betterthief, And More Prepare Fourth Album, Knells, For Late February Release

Investigative music source Captured Howls is hosting the premiere of “Bedim,” the new single from cinematic ambient trio IONOPHORE. The track is found on the band’s impending fourth album, Knells, which is nearing release at the end of February.

With its members hailing from both Oakland, California and London, UK, IONOPHORE is the project of multi-instrumentalists Leila Abdul-Rauf (Vastum, Fyrhtu, Terebellum), Janek Hendrich (Qepe, Not Quite So, Betterthief), and Ryan Honaker (Souls And Cities, Betterthief). Formed in 2012, the trio continues to weave their trademark cinematic dark electronics and organic elements, melding the orchestral strings of Honaker with the horns and voice of Abdul-Rauf, embellished with the electronic flourishes of Hendrich.

Knells is the lush follow-up to IONOPHORE‘s well-received 2018-released Whetter. The record sees the group exploring a more introspective, neoclassical sound, pondering a weightless feeling of late-night stillness and ambience, interrupted by elements of lethargic jazz on “Take Its Course,” and the distant anguish of whirring machines on “Our Garden.” The album closes with the cool glow of “Contemplation,” bringing calm to the preceding events. Produced by the band, mastered by Myles Boisen at Headless Buddha, and completed with cover art and layout by Janek Hendrich, Knells offers IONOPHORE‘s most captivating and immersive material to date.

Alongside the premiere of “Bedim,” Leila Abdul-Rauf states, “With its stripped down, neoclassical instrumentation of guitar-violin-piano accented with subtle electronics, ‘Bedim’ captures the somber essence of Knells, from its wistful intro to its chilling climax: crepuscular-lit, and a fitting soundscape for late Winter.”

Captured Howls writes in part in their in-depth dissection of the song, “Although the musical journey moves free from verse-chorus restraints, the track is very melody-centric, and the powerful emotion in the central performances feels rather inescapable. There’s a sense of piercing malaise combined with a kind of creeping solitude, as though the track reflects feelings of sitting alone and feeling chilly isolation no matter what’s actually around in a strictly physical sense.”

Watch for official videos and more on Knells to be issued over the days ahead.