Andreas Usenbenz - Frozen Apes For Monica

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Review by Jim Pino Alarcón

Frozen Apes For Monica: A Sonic Dive into Minimalist Dreams Andreas Usenbenz’s Frozen Apes For Monica is one of those albums that sneaks up on you. Released in 2017 under Germany's Attenuation Circuit label, this electronic gem blends minimal, drone, ambient, and experimental vibes into something deeply personal yet oddly universal. It’s not the kind of album you just listen to—it’s more like an experience you stumble through late at night when everything else feels too loud. Let me start with the title track, "Frozen Apes For Monica." I mean, what even is that name? It sounds like some cryptic poem or maybe a forgotten sci-fi novel from the '70s. But once it kicks in, oh man, it grabs hold of your brain. The track starts slow—like, glacier-moving-slow—but there’s this haunting layer of drones that builds up so subtly you don’t realize how deep you’re in until it’s too late. There are moments where it feels cold, almost alienating, but then these tiny melodic flickers break through, like sunlight hitting ice. You can tell Usenbenz put his soul into every second of it. Honestly, after hearing it, I couldn’t stop thinking about winter landscapes and empty rooms for days. Another standout is… well, actually, the whole thing flows together so seamlessly it’s hard to pick another specific track without feeling like you’re ripping apart a painting to admire just one color. But if I had to choose, there’s this moment (I think it’s near the middle of the album) where the soundscapes shift ever so slightly—a soft hum turns into this distant echo, like someone whispering secrets across a vast canyon. It’s eerie, but also kinda comforting, y’know? Like being alone but not lonely. The credits deserve a shoutout too. Thomas Park’s artwork fits perfectly; it looks as abstract and dreamlike as the music itself. And Mystified’s contributions to the sound design add layers that feel both intentional and spontaneous, like they were discovered rather than created. Emerge’s design ties it all together visually, making the package feel cohesive and thought-out. What sticks with me most about Frozen Apes For Monica isn’t any single melody or beat—it’s the mood. Listening to it feels like stepping into a world where time doesn’t exist, where you can float freely between thoughts and emotions without judgment. It’s weirdly freeing, even though parts of it are heavy and introspective. Here’s the unexpected part: halfway through writing this review, I realized I kept picturing apes. Not regular apes, mind you, but frozen ones standing still in a snowy forest. Maybe that’s what Usenbenz wanted—to make us imagine impossible things. Or maybe he just really likes apes. Either way, it worked. This album lingers long after the last note fades, leaving behind traces of wonder and curiosity. So yeah, check it out. Just don’t blame me if you find yourself zoning out for hours, lost in its strange beauty.

Download Andreas Usenbenz - Frozen Apes For Monica
Artist: Andreas Usenbenz
Album: Frozen Apes For Monica
Rating: 5.0

Table of Contents

Download

Filename: andreas-usenbenz-frozen-apes-for-monica.zip
  • MP3 size: 5.7 mb
  • FLAC size: 40.5 mb

Tracks

TrackDurationPreview
Frozen Apes For Monica23:28

Images

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Catalog Numbers

ACPM 1022

Labels

Attenuation Circuit

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Formats

  • File
  • MP3
  • EP
  • 320 kbps

Credits

RoleCredit
ArtworkThomas Park
Composed ByAndreas Usenbenz
DesignEmerge
SoundsMystified

Notes

free download

About Andreas Usenbenz

Andreas Usenbenz is self-taught. Since 2000, he is working in the field between field recording, composition and improvisation. For his work Usenbenz primarily uses sounds from his immediate surroundings. These sounds, be sampled directly from the environment serve as starting material for his compositions. Drone Music or musique concrète, Ambient are genres which are heavily connected to Andreas work. In 2010 he graduated as audio engineer and has since worked as a freelance sound designer and composer for theater, museums, industry and art in a wide range. He played concerts, performances, preferably under improvised setups with renowned artists from the contemporary music, jazz and electronic music scene between Germany and Austria. He has also accompanied musically contemporary dance performances for various Choreographers. He also produced several multichannel sound installations in germany and austria. Releases on his own label KLANGGOLD, various online and CD releases on fassade, Tinah, Unfinished Monkey Records, tonAtom, Headphonica, Laridae, Grünrekorder, Sozialistischer Plattenbau and Aosmosis are reflecting his versatile work again. In 2010 he founded Klangmanufaktur. This Imprint serves him as a creative - Factory - forging for many areas of the creative industries. From here, he composes and designes sound for local and global companies. In 2012 he founded the Sound Effect Production Company The Soundcatcher. Under this name he sells special, unusual sounds and sound archives for sound designers and media professionals worldwide.

Real Name

    • Andreas Usenbenz

Name Vars

  • Hr. Herr

Aliases

  • Sonovo
  • Nobile

Interesting fact about Album

Here’s a cool fact: The album *Frozen Apes For Monica* by Andreas Usenbenz is a fascinating blend of minimal, drone, and ambient sounds. Released in 2017 under the German label Attenuation Circuit, it’s not just music—it’s an experience. The track *Frozen Apes For Monica* stands out as a centerpiece, crafted with experimental layers that feel both haunting and meditative. Fun detail: the artwork was done by Thomas Park, adding a visual layer that perfectly matches the mood of the music. It’s like stepping into a sonic dreamscape.