WL//WH Video Premiere: RUAH Navigates Loss Through Memories with “Time to Go”

WL//WH Premiere RUAH

Ruah is the alias of the Philadelphia-based experimental Post-Industrial / Ambient Pop project of Benjamin Schurr (BLIGHT. Records, Luna Honey, Nyxy Nyx, Tadzio), who is preparing for the December 12, 2023 release of his sophomore album, “Memory Loops”, via the Philadelphia charity label and distro Strange Mono, with the WL//WH premiere of the video for “Time to Go”.

The new venture takes off from where Schurr’s former project Br’er left off in 2020, marrying dizzying swashes of raw noise pulsing visceral post-industrial rhythms, creaky organic instruments, found sounds and earnest yet absurdist lyrics.

My aim has always been to merge conflicting sounds, abrasive and beautiful and to see what occurs. Whether it’s been done before is pretty much irrelevant to me, I want to constantly be exploring music and to chase that feeling of wonderment as if I am discovering fire for the first time.Schurr describes his process

Stirring recollections from the past arouse ominous martial shuffling percussions to underlie a blurry veil of powerfully evocative and haunting nostalgic vocals, surreal muted twinkling piano key melodies and weeping, surging wistful strings to bring forth the feeling of a tragic goodbye, left whispering I love you into a hypnotic cadence of “Time to Go.”

After setting up my studio in West Philly I found myself compelled to digitize old cassettes, microcassettes and field recordings I had made with friends at the beginning of my start as a producer/songwriter. I found snippets of magic from a friend who since passed and a song began to reveal itself, the more I dug the more revelations, this is a collection of that process, focusing on loops that had significance to me as a sonic mantra and a way to keep these fleeting memories alive. Benjamin Schurr

An exploration into the significance of memory to navigate loss shuffles line-laden vintage video clips from special moments in a child’s life with an emotional, present-day interpretation to sync seamlessly with the sentimental sadness of the soundtrack. A stirring dreamlike sequence containing a birthday party, hand-crafted costumes, and loving parents pulls at the heartstrings of the viewer as the current expression of Ruah suggests a great tragedy has occurred.

Ruah‘s second LP, “Memory Loops”, is slated for release, in ltd. Cassette & Digital formats, on December 12, 2023 via the Philadelphia charity label and distro Strange Mono.

Proceeds from the album benefit the Doctors Without Borders – Gaza Relief.

Keep up with Ruah/Strange Mono: