Michel Banabila – Unspeakable Visions

Spiritual fourth world music of the highest degree, Unspeakable Visions is Michel Banabila’s second LP release on the cult favorite Amsterdam-based label Knekelhuis. While 2021’s Echo Transformations built its world of soundscapes through exotic percussion, flutes, and electronic-folk-song, Unspeakable Visions focuses specifically on the manipulation of voices — creating otherworldly fictional characters chanting in made-up languages. Like all of Banibila’s music, the worlds formed here are immensely cinematic, and its no surprise that Banibala is an accomplished film composer. However, that’s not to say the music rests in a totally ambient zone; tracks like “So Far Yet So Near” and “AI Brainfire” touch on some pleasantly upbeat grooves with kick drums and forward motion. Highly recommended for fans of Jon Hassell, Jan Schulte, Eno & Byrne’s My Life in the Bush of Ghosts.