''Fear in a Handful of Dust'' is the eighth studio album by Brazilian electronic musician

Amon Tobin Amon Adonai Santos de Araújo Tobin (born February 7, 1972), known as Amon Tobin (), is a Brazilian electronic musician, composer and producer. He is noted for his unusual methodology in sound design and music production. He has released eight ...

. It was released on 26 April 2019.

Critical reception

Paul Simpson of

AllMusic AllMusic (previously known as All Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the databas ...

described the album as "highly intricate electro-acoustic pieces that bring to mind composers like

Morton Subotnick Morton Subotnick (born April 14, 1933) is an American composer of electronic music, best known for his 1967 composition '' Silver Apples of the Moon'', the first electronic work commissioned by a record company, Nonesuch. He was one of the foun ...

and

György Ligeti György Sándor Ligeti (; ; 28 May 1923 – 12 June 2006) was a Hungarian-Austrian composer of contemporary classical music. He has been described as "one of the most important avant-garde composers in the latter half of the twentieth century" ...

rather than any of Tobin's former labelmates" but concluded that "''Fear in a Handful of Dust'' seems like a departure for Tobin, but even while he's abandoning conventional rhythms or genre signifiers, his music remains unmistakably human, and as challenging as the album might seem, it's easier to listen to than one might expect." Daryl Keating of ''

Exclaim! ''Exclaim!'' is a Canadian music and entertainment publisher based in Toronto, which features in-depth coverage of new music across all genres with a special focus on Canadian and emerging artists. The monthly Exclaim! print magazine publishes 7 ...

'' called the record Tobin's "most wistful work to date" and "the best sonic definition for imperfect beauty we've got right now", and said, "There's a very loose and purposefully flawed feel to this record... ''Fear in a Handful of Dust'' ambles through the woods in anything but a straight line." Chris Ingalls of ''

PopMatters ''PopMatters'' is an international online magazine of cultural criticism that covers aspects of popular culture. ''PopMatters'' publishes reviews, interviews, and essays on cultural products and expressions in areas such as music, television, fi ...

'' noted the mix of modern synthesiser sounds and old samples, stating that "while lots of electronic instrumental music seems hell-bent on simulating gleaming perfection, Tobin's universe is a cracked one, and an oddly human one at that". He went on to say, "All these descriptions of cold technology and robotic interfaces may imply that there's a lack of emotion on ''Fear in a Handful of Dust''. Far from it... Amon Tobin is a master of creating a chilling, deeply felt musical experience, and anyone who tends to turn a blind eye to electronic music should approach this wonderful album with an open mind. It's time well-spent."

Track listing

All tracks written by Amon Tobin. # "On a Hilltop Sat the Moon" – 3:37 # "Vipers Follow You" – 4:18 # "Freeformed" – 3:10 # "Pale Forms Run By" – 4:50 # "Heart of the Sun" – 3:23 # "Velvet Owl" – 7:48 # "Fooling Alright" – 3:12 # "Milk Millionaire" – 2:14 # "Three Different Hat Sizes" – 3:56 # "Dark as Dogs" – 4:20

References

{{Authority control 2019 albums Amon Tobin albums