Straightening, Dispersing
NTHNL
With Straightening, Dispersing, NTHNL opens a space that feels elevated and weightless from the very first moments. The track does not rush to establish itself. It settles slowly, allowing airy synth textures to expand outward while subtle orchestral colors emerge within the atmosphere rather than above it.
The strings and winds do not behave like traditional melodic leads. Instead, they drift through the composition as shifting layers of tone and warmth. Nothing insists. Nothing pushes forward. The arrangement feels patient and spacious, as though shaped by air rather than structure.
NTHNL, the moniker of Brooklyn-based composer and instrument-maker Jake Rudin, is known for building intricate sonic worlds from both familiar and unconventional sources. Here, that complexity is softened into something remarkably serene. The piece feels carefully constructed yet emotionally open, detailed yet unburdened.
Listening becomes less about following progression and more about inhabiting texture. The harmonies hover quietly. The synths seem to inhale and exhale. Time loosens its edges.
For a few minutes, the ground feels distant and the air feels clear.
– Lauri Heiskanen, Linnunrata Productions
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Curated for Zen Retreat – Early 2026 Collection
Zen Retreat – Playlist
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