Olivier Cong is a composer/film scorer based out of Hong Kong. Born in 1994, Cong began his musical journey by taking up both violin and piano. He has since garnered a fair amount of success in his career, even becoming the first artist from Hong Kong to receive an Apple Music Artist Spotlight award.
The release of 2024’s Tropical Church stands as Cong’s fourth album to date. The album departs from Cong’s more classical sensibilities and leans heavily into a meditative area, in parts abruptly interrupted by screeches, whistles, vocalizations, etc.
The title of the album, as well as its cover art, also hint towards this meditative style choice. On the cover, one will see a still image from Apitchatpong Weerasethakul’s 2004 film “Tropical Malady.” Weerasethakul is a Thai film director known for his transcendental style of filmmaking, this is a film described as having a “methodical slowness” to it, a film of reflection. This music, possibly made as a fan’s homage to a different art form, accompanies these themes perfectly. The music is a space for its listener to ponder.
Across Tropical Church, the listener will be able to find ambient expertise akin to the best works of Brian Eno. The opening track of the album “I am afraid of,” enters with background noise made up of what sounds like feedback chiseled into a peaceful tone. Towards the back end of this track, the melodica is placed over the ethereal backdrop, creating a grandiose sense of calming and reflection, as well as just a tinge of unease much like Weerasethakul attempts to achieve on the silver screen.
These melodica-style lead parts carry into the next song on the album, “Solace,” yet these parts begin to take on a sort of sinister tone as the album goes on. Currents of wind cut through the track, as cold as ice. Meanwhile, around the four-minute mark of “Solace,” a high-pitched whistle is added only increasing the tension in the music.
One of the album’s most effective areas comes with the fourth track “moon dance.” The track is a perfect showcase of Cong’s ability to articulate specific tones in instrumental music. Whistles and howls can be heard in this track growing like a tea kettle on a hot stovetop. This rise is led into a dip in the track spearheaded by a serene sound that could easily be a sample of a submarine’s SONAR device. This in turn creates a feeling that the listener is underwater, looking up to the surface to catch a glimpse of something profound.
The closing track of this album “prayer of mine” opens musically with what is later described as a “tropical humming.” Someone is then heard reciting a spoken word poem, detailing what this “Tropical Church” means to them. This is a fantastic fit for the end of the album as it is easily Cong’s most reflective piece. Leaving the audience with four and a half final minutes of contemplation that will most likely stick around long after the track ends.
Leave a Comment