Ben Frost's 'Broken Spectre' Album Critiqued as Overblown Environmental Statement

Australian-Icelandic experimental producer Ben Frost released his first studio album in five years, 'Broken Spectre' (2022), which he describes as a document of failure regarding political will and imagination in addressing Amazon deforestation under Jair Bolsonaro's policies. The album serves as the soundtrack to visual artist Richard Mosse's installation of the same name, on view at London's 180 Studios until 30 December. Mosse used thermal imaging cameras on rainforest foliage while Frost manipulated field recordings of fauna, flora, insects, mammals, and birds, slowing them down to capture inaudible sounds. Critics argue the album's grandiose approach results in a bland, overbearing sound that fails to communicate the Amazon's scale, with tracks like 'The Index' and 'The Killing Ground' feeling macho and trite. The album's ending with 'The Crystal World' cutting to silence after 4:14 lacks dramatic impact. Frost's project is contrasted with more successful landscape-related musical practices by artists like Richard Skelton, Laura Cannell, and Nkisi, who approach their subjects with humility and wonder. The review suggests Frost's hubris mirrors the problematic human attitudes toward nature he aims to critique, comparing it to transactional activities like forest bathing or logging.