Carmen Villain's 'Memoria' Draws from Film and Sonic Philosopher Pauline Oliveros

Carmen Villain has announced a new ambient dub album titled Memoria, set for release on September 4 via Smalltown Supersound. The follow-up to 2022's Only Love From Now On borrows its title from Apichatpong Weerasethakul's 2021 film, according to Pitchfork and confirmed by Stereogum. Alongside the announcement, Villain shared the lead single "Entre Nosotros," a bleary experimental electronic piece blending archival recordings with new performances.

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PitchforkCarmen Villain Announces New Ambient Dub Album *Memoria*, Shares First SingleStereogumCarmen Villain Announces New Album Memoria, Shares Lead Single "Entre Nosotros"

"She also drew inspiration from composer Pauline Oliveros' writings on internally recalled sounds."

This philosophical undercurrent shapes the album's concept of memory and internal audio, as Villain explores how sounds are remembered and reconstructed. Stereogum noted that the single features Villain on clarinet alongside Johanna Orellana's flutes and Eivind Lønning's trumpet, resulting in what they described as a "bleary, thumping, gurgling experimental electronic composition."

"The lead single 'Entre Nosotros' ('Between Us') blends archival sounds with new recordings."

The track's title translates to "Between Us," hinting at the intimate, in-between spaces the music occupies. Villain, whose real name is Carmen Maria Hillestad, continues to push her signature blend of ambient and dub into more textural and abstract territory. A blog post on carmandragone.car.blog also echoed the album title's link to Weerasethakul's film, further underscoring the cinematic influence behind Memoria.

carmandragone.car.blogCarmen Villain Announces New Album Memoria