How much of your life is predetermined since ancient history—and how much of it is up to you? On Fate / Will, Berkeley producer Kush Arora (as Only Now) continues probing the big questions about time and existence through purely sonic meditations. Soaring, expanding dark ambient gives way to electric twisted riddims assembled from Hindustani classical instrumentation and more, unconsciously entangling the listener in a frenetic, claustrophobic web of confusion. But still, time beats on, and the end always draws near.
“Trance Return”—the album’s droning closer—is a rework of a long-form piece that Arora made for his performance at the 2022 San Francisco Electronic Music Festival.
