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Sunda Arc merges two different worlds with ‘Night Lands’

Anindito Ariwandono (The Jakarta Post)
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Bandung
Thu, January 19, 2023

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Sunda Arc merges two different worlds with ‘Night Lands’ Archipelagic arc: Jordan noted that they chose the name because of the Sunda Arc's unique topography of volcanic and deep sea activity. (courtesy of Sunda Arc) (Archive/courtesy of Sunda Arc)

T

em>The Norwich-based brothers who comprise electronic duo Sunda Arc talk about their harrowingly beautiful sophomore studio album Night Lands, learning hard rock songs as teens and busking in their formative years.

On Sept. 16, 2022, brothers Jordan and Nick Smart shared a new video for a track from their sophomore studio album, Night Lands, as electronic duo Sunda Arc, based in Norwich, the United Kingdom.

Like most of the duo’s past work, “Distant Siren” is an expansive composition with a haunting, ethereal feel. Its seeming foreignness was elevated as it was paired with unsettling images of empty streets in Tokyo.

‘Night Lands’: The cover art for Sunda Arc's sophomore album was designed by Duncan Bellamy. (courtesy of Sunda Arc)
‘Night Lands’: The cover art for Sunda Arc's sophomore album was designed by Duncan Bellamy. (courtesy of Sunda Arc) (Archive/courtesy of Sunda Arc)

The track, however, was permeated by ingrained sadness. The all-encompassing sense of wistful longing came across as a bit different from the duo’s past releases, as if to signify more profound melancholia for the brothers’ sophomore album.

Night Lands proved to be a harrowingly beautiful album full of intricate, melancholic soundscapes built from instruments and sounds that were obscured, sometimes beyond recognition, and humbling tracks that were both tender and terrifying at the same time.

Merging worlds

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