Lush, immense, thought-provoking soundscapes that tell stories of distant lands and lives past and present; this is a valid descriptor of the productions that come out of the beautiful mind of Charles Ingalls, better known by his persona Charlesthefirst. Growing up in the Lake Tahoe area afforded him constant immersion in nature, breeding an intense respect for the earth and all the natural frequencies we experience throughout daily life. He’s evolved this into his own works by carrying around a field recorder with him everywhere he goes, taking samples from moments in time and making his music unique and individual. A passion for poetry and the spoken word grew into a love for hip-hop, which then bled into creating beats of his own. Now, he’s built himself up as one of the most progressive minds in bass music, smashing headlining sets all across the country’s festival circuit. His latest mental exploration through sonic vibration is the No Dimmer EP, an immersive and rich 6 track jaunt through life itself.
The opening track ‘Consumed,’ is your first injection of auditory pleasure, coating your entire being in a bubble where outside worries are a thing of the past. The hip-hop elements are readily apparent, sporting an infectious beat that gets the hips in motion. The melodies are gorgeous and mixed impeccably and the vocals are sprinkled delicately throughout. The song takes a much darker turn in the latter half, trading airy melodies for popping basslines and much darker vocals both in terms of tone and depth. This dichotomy between the two pieces makes it feel more like a story is unfolding right in front of your ears. This story element is a common theme amongst Charlesthefirst’s works, and a sign of a master artist at work.
Next on the EP is ‘Room to Breathe,’ a song immensely stimulating at the atomic level. The opening feels like a sunrise on a gorgeous morning, leaving you looking forward to what the rest of the day has to offer. The build is elongated, feeling the gentle growth of energy as you settle into its grasp. Seems like a warm, rainy AM affair, taking “mellow” to new heights. The first drop is deep and exceptionally clean, but doesn’t last long. This is reminiscent of having to take a drive after an event in your life that sets you off kilter, needing literal room to breathe and space for your thoughts. The second drop is the sunset of the day, ramping things down as the shadows grow larger and the pace of life slows ever increasingly.
‘Ove-4’ takes up the #3 spot on No Dimmer, continuing the chill aesthetic that is so prevalent throughout this body of work. Exhibiting major lo-fi hip-hop vibes with added bassy accentuations, this is a piece you could put on repeat and comfortably go about your day, or even study to. Aided by vocals by Ari Appel, a sense of longing for someone you can’t have is felt. The end of the song drifts off, each note becoming progressively quieter, much like the intense feelings we feel for others until that attachment is severed and slowly drifts away to nothingness.
The title track ‘No Dimmer’ comes in at the number four spot, arguably the most energetic of the songs up to this point. The first drop is a true pleasure on the ears, incorporating some of the cleanest wubs listeners’ have ever heard into a track that is incredibly fun to get down to. After the early initial drop, the track never reaches another high of point of energy, trading instead for emphasis on magnificent vocals courtesy of Chynna. This gradual decrease of excitement spells out the reaction to meeting someone new. A beginning rush as a connection is established, and then a slow descent back to stasis, the connection cut and the longing for another awakens.
‘Limitless’ is the 2nd to last on the EP, another prime example of how well-made this entire body of work is. The melodies are varied, complex, and gorgeous, layered perfectly with the surely present but far from overpowering drums and bass lines. An easy song to simply vibe out too, cutting off other senses will amplify the little accents you normally wouldn’t take in. Notes seem to hit, then shatter into glassy rain droplets, reaching out to the next with ease, nothing ever feeling forced or anything less than completely organic.
‘Hair in the Wind’ rounds out this collection, feeling not like your hair catching the breeze driving with the top down, but rather walking through a field of sunflowers with a light breeze. The sun lightly hitting your face and the gusts every now and then having enough force to move a blade of hair, but not enough to do anything more than remind you of its presence. Listening hard enough you’ll pick up on the sounds of birds in the background, little chirps and the sounds of their wings fluttering placed throughout. Hifi water droplets are also used, making this piece feel like an actual embodiment of nature, reconnecting every listener with their most primal of selves emotionally.
Charles Ingalls has a mind unlike any other artist currently making bass music, and every listener of this EP will surely reflect the same sentiments. No Dimmer is immeasurably robust and exquisite, eliciting a wide array of emotions out of each listener, an enthralling, gentle ride from start to finish. This is a body of work that will leave you thankful it exists, a beacon of hope and a ticket to genuine feeling, something the world is in short supply of lately. Fans will be left with this in their weekly playlist for a long time to come, or at least until he graces us with more earthy audible treasures. Until then, check out all that is No Dimmer below!
