Ott's Hiraeth is built from electronic dub, reggae pulse and a generous supply of odd acoustic colour. Bass guitar and fretless bass give the grooves weight, while synths, guitar, additional drums and trumpet keep the arrangements moving. “Muggy Boneheads” brings in Balkan Bump, and “Raketwetenschap” adds vocals from Priscilla Haring-Kuipers alongside Stijn Haring-Kuipers's synthesisers. The result can be playful and spacious, but it isn't background music by default. There are plenty of small turns in the mix.
The later tracks widen the palette further. “Fhloston Paradise” includes bansuri flute, field recording, energy path, mumbling and even monkey noises, while “What Will Survive Of Us Is Love” brings together fretless bass, Mellotron, harmonium, hurdy gurdy and mandocello. Vocals from Daisy, Zoe and Terrie Odabi add a human edge to the programmed foundations. Ott has been active since 1980, and this paid 2024 release is available on digital formats, CD and vinyl, mastered by Geoff Pesche at Abbey Road Studios. It should appeal to people who like their dub detailed and slightly strange, with enough live instrumentation to keep the electronic parts from feeling sealed off.
