Nicolas Snyder has done scores for the Showtime documentary on Rick Rubin Shangri-La as well as various other cinematic projects. For his latest album Spell of Remembrance (available in full as of September 30, 2022) Snyder seems to explore memory, personal and collective, through crafting sound environments drawing upon field recordings of texture and tone complemented by his own sonic touches for a result that is not unlike editing a film but perhaps from a more sound design perspective. The single “Toll Bell” utilizes various bell sounds as drops of tonal percussion as atmospheric elements and as informal rhythm. Saxophone flutters in the background and in escalating arcs creates a sense of menace and mystery. Snyder left in the sound of air flowing and natural distortion lending the song a subtle textural element that grounds the whole as an almost tactile listening experience. It is immersive overall and when we hear water running in the middle distance and then the sound of a creature repeating a wordless phrase toward the end of the song one wonders what indeed the toll bell brought forth out of the cosmos. Listen to “Toll Bell” on YouTube and follow Nicolas Snyder at the links provided. Spell of Remembrance is now out on vinyl, cassette and as a digital download.
Queen City Sounds and Art 
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