Uboa’s latest album, Impossible Light, released this summer, can be defined as marking a shift in the artist’s sonic journey. Emerging from a tumultuous creative process that began in 2018, the album is a departure from the soundscape of Xandra Metcalfe’s previous work as Uboa, one that is as much musical as it is spiritual.
Impossible Light pays homage to the thematic and stylistic trajectory established by Uboa’s 2019 breakout album, The Origin of My Depression, but builds on it conceptually and emotionally. That earlier release was a terrifying and melodic exploration of doom, harsh noise, and ambient soundscapes, offering an unvarnished account of Metcalfe’s experiences with her transition and mental health struggles. The album garnered a dedicated following, evolving into a community connected through noise music, neurodiversity, and trans identity.
With Impossible Light, Uboa maintains the signature elements of her polished, cinematic ‘hypernoise’ while venturing into new territory with industrial metal and rock influences. This shift not only differentiates Impossible Light from Uboa’s earlier works but also sets it apart from other contemporary noise records. The album reflects Metcalfe’s intent to encapsulate the volatile emotions and rapid changes in her life and the world between 2018 and 2023.
Key collaborators on Impossible Light include Blood of a Pomegranate, Otay::onii, Charlie Looker, and Haela Hunt-Hendrix of Liturgy. Together, they contribute to an album that tackles themes of queer sexuality, trans embodiment, grief, solidarity, and the pervasive spread of transphobic hatred and misinformation. Central to the album’s narrative is the metaphor of light at the end of the tunnel, symbolizing the hope and resilience required to overcome trauma and mental anguish.
Clocking in at just over 40 minutes, Impossible Light is crafted as a cohesive listening experience rather than a collection of discrete tracks. The album’s structure emphasizes ambient soundscapes that flow seamlessly into one another, creating an immersive auditory journey. Despite its ambient roots, the album is animated by moments of glitchy noise and post-industrial synths, punctuated by intense, visceral bursts of sound.
The album’s abrasiveness is tempered by serene undertones in such a way that even the most jarring disruptions do not break the album’s flow. The final track, featuring contributions from Otay::onii and Haela Hunt-Hendrix, emerges as a particularly uplifting and hopeful conclusion, embodying the album’s theme of navigating towards a metaphorical light.
Uboa, who began as an experimental doom metal project in a bedroom in 2010, has since evolved into a leading voice in noise and abstract music. Previous works, such as The Sky May Be (2018) and The Origin of My Depression (2019), showcased a blend of harsh noise and ambient elements, often drawing comparisons to influences like Jenny Hval and Planning For Burial. With Impossible Light, Uboa not only extends her artistic boundaries but also deepens her engagement with the interplay of noise and melody, offering a work that is as introspective as it is audacious.
In Impossible Light, Uboa confronts the chaos and beauty of existence with a renewed sense of purpose. The album’s exploration of industrial and noise genres reaffirms Uboa’s position as a force in contemporary noise, pushing the boundaries of sound and narrative while continuing to address profound personal and societal themes that have defined her work.
Stream the album below.
