Label: Spotted Peccary
My introduction to Hollan Holmes was a few years ago on his 2023 release, Sacred Places.
In The Sanctity of Rust, Hollan uses tools such as Native Instruments, Arturia Pigments, and Spectrasonics Omnisphere. Vintage hardware like the Korg MS20 and Oberheim Matrix 12 brings a classic, warmer sound to his electronic soundscapes.
There is not a single track under five minutes; they are all spacious and transitory, with an eclectic range of sounds, colors, and textures.
“The Sanctity of Rust” opens this instrumental journey with a lot of energy and colorful textures. The combination of powerful synths and electric guitars creates a wall of sound reminiscent of artists such as Tangerine Dream and Kitaro.
“The Unstoppable March of Time” delivers a softer vibe, with many layers of synths and other electronic sounds embellishing the main melody. When you think of electronic or ambient music, the first thought is not rhythms, melodies, or something to tap your toes to. However, do not let that thought cross your mind, because it’s all there on this one track and proof that all of it can coexist successfully.
“Once More Unto The Breach” takes things into yet another direction. The synths have that vintage sound that reaches back decades. That and the combination of the magic touch of Hollan’s fingers and the modern technology and techniques make for an absorbing, ever-changing listen.
“Moebius Trip” has many elements merging consecutively, which is the hallmark of this man’s expertise in crafting a track that demands your attention and pulls you away from start to finish. You feel anticipation at every turn, wondering what sound will arrive next. That is an aspect of this music that I appreciate and respect. It runs in high and low tempos, and together, if you can picture that happening. The synths, keys, and backing bass sounds drive along like a metronome and can be a focus point of relaxing or just spacing out.
This is ambient, electronic, space, altogether an instrumental foray into space and time, your space and time, a place waiting for you in the music. It just keeps happening track after track, always inviting you to engage in the unfolding journey.
The first four track overviews give you a good idea of what to expect on this recording. The varying degrees of tempos, rhythms, and intricacies of various loops and sounds are like watching a patchwork quilt come together right before your eyes. Think of what it’s like watching a flower bloom with time-lapse photography. That is what it’s like listening to the music of Hollan Holmes. The best part is that you get to create your own pictures while the music plays.
Ultimately, Hollan’s fascination with the artistry of decay—brilliantly captured in the cover art—gives The Sanctity of Rust its emotional core. This is music that reflects the passage of time and its impact on both our physical and spiritual worlds. Even when the synths build to their heaviest, there is solace to be found in these soundscapes. The album’s interplay between time and sound is not just stimulating but deeply validating, making The Sanctity of Rust an extraordinary and fulfilling journey for any listener appreciative of instrumental music.
Keith
“MuzikMan” Hannaleck-MuzikMan.net Founder
Originally Published: January 2024
April
16, 2026
Tracks:
01. The Sanctity of Rust 5:08
02. The Unstoppable March of Time 5:34
03. Once More Unto The Breach 6:10
04. Moebius Trip 5:34
05. Triumph Over Tragedy Sky 5:23
06. Night Sky 5:31
07. So Far Away 5:22
08. Spellbound 6:42
09. One Door Closes Another Opens 7:56
10. The Fantastic Journey 6:37
11. Battle Scars 5:45
12. Here at The End of All Things 6:05