Above Air

Released in 2006, Above Air represents a pivotal moment in the discography of Ivan Pavlov (CoH), moving away from the more abrasive rhythmic experiments of his early work toward a more melodic and atmospheric 'digital romanticism.' The album title and track names suggest a preoccupation with flight, altitude, and the thinning of atmosphere, which is reflected in the music's airy, high-frequency focus. Pavlov utilizes his signature surgical precision to create textures that are sharp yet ethereal. Critics often highlight this album as a peak of the 'glitch' era, where the technical limitations of digital audio were transformed into a new form of beauty. Unlike his peers who used glitch for chaos, CoH uses it here for serenity. The album sits comfortably between the academic rigor of Raster-Noton and the more emotive IDM of the early 2000s, cementing Pavlov's reputation as a sound designer capable of immense emotional resonance through purely synthetic means.