Aidan Baker

Though he's known in most circles as a member of drone purveyors Nadja, Toronto, ON's Aidan Baker is something else all the time. Aside from Nadja, ARC and Mnemosyne, he's also a published poet and composer, as well as a solo artist. I Wish Too, To Be Absorbed is a collection of rare, out-of-print releases from the last decade compiled as a two-disc set. Going back as far as his very first release, 2000's Elements, it's an all-encompassing look at Baker's alone time. Disc one begins with shorter takes that conclude with an emotional ride through the 22-minute "Speed of Thought." Baker's mood is mostly elegiac and sullen, though he's careful to present it with warm tones and various styles, like the drum looped trip-hop of "Summer Chill" or the menacing glow of a selected ambient work like "Calibrate." Disc two may seem a more daunting listen because of the hefty running time over five tracks but it also seems more in line with what Baker is best known for. The pieces are stretched works of cinematic beauty that utilize indistinguishable samples, field recordings and ominous synths to create a wide range of emotional drones. I Wish Too is a worthy collection for those interested in owning his limited edition works, or just hearing how this renowned experimentalist works as a solitary man.