Living Color by Dura: A Sonic Dive into the Abstract
If you’ve ever wondered what happens when ambient music meets experimental chaos and drone vibes, Living Color by Dura is your answer. Released in 2015 under Blankstairs (shoutout to those tastemakers), this album feels like eavesdropping on a secret conversation between sound waves that don’t quite know how to behave—and honestly, it’s glorious.
Let’s get real for a second. The whole thing feels otherworldly, but two tracks, in particular, stuck with me like gum on a summer sidewalk: “Indigoferma” and “Cochineale.”
“Indigoferma” kicks off with these soft, almost hesitant tones, like it’s tiptoeing into your ears without asking permission. Then BAM—it swells into this lush wall of sound that makes you feel like you’re floating through some kind of cosmic fog. It doesn’t demand attention; instead, it wraps itself around you until you can’t ignore it anymore. I remember listening to this one late at night, headphones on, thinking, “Is this what outer space dreams sound like?” Spoiler alert: probably.
Then there’s “Cochineale,” which hits differently. This track has more grit, more teeth. It starts off whispery, all mysterious and brooding, but about halfway through, it morphs into something darker—like if shadows could sing. There’s an unease here, but also beauty, like staring at storm clouds while the sun peeks through. Every time I hear it, I’m reminded of walking alone downtown after midnight, where the city hums its own strange melody. That vibe? Yeah, it’s nailed.
Props go out to Mattson Ogg, who not only wrote the damn thing but performed it too. And let’s not forget Rafael Anton Irisarri, whose mastering wizardry turns this project from cool to holy-crap-wow levels of immersive. Shoutout to Christian Villacillo for the artwork and Nathaniel Young for the design/layout—they made sure the visuals match the mood perfectly. You can tell everyone involved poured their soul into this record.
So yeah, Living Color isn’t your typical electronic album. It doesn’t follow rules or stick to formulas. Instead, it drifts, pulses, and occasionally punches you right in the feels. If you’re looking for background noise, keep scrolling. But if you want something that’ll make you stop, think, and maybe even question reality for a hot sec, give this a spin.
Final thought? Listening to this album feels like finding a hidden door in a familiar room. You didn’t know it was there, but once you step through, you realize there’s no going back. Oh, and fun fact: apparently indigoferma is a plant used to make dye. Makes sense now, huh?
