Midra

Midra is widely interpreted as a musical representation of finding warmth and sanctuary amidst a harsh, cold environment. Released on the EP LNLNN, which the artists described as having a "bleaker, harsher atmosphere" compared to their previous work, Midra stands out as a notable exception. Critics and listeners alike have identified it as a "warm" counterpart to the otherwise freezing, nocturnal tone of the album.

The title Midra is abstract, likely a neologism created by the duo to evoke a specific feeling or place without binding it to a literal definition. Musically, it embodies the concept of solitude not as loneliness, but as a peaceful, meditative state. The progression of the track mirrors a physical or spiritual journey: starting in the unknown (the cold, atmospheric intro), finding a rhythm or path (the percussion), and eventually discovering a source of light or emotional release (the melodic climax).

The unintelligible vocal samples serve as a "universal voice," allowing the listener to project their own emotions and memories onto the track. It speaks to the human connection with nature, specifically the vast, silent forests of Northern Sweden, suggesting that even in the darkest winters, there is a pulse of life and warmth to be found.

This song is instrumental, featuring atmospheric vocal chops and textures rather than lyrical verses. The musical narrative unfolds as follows:

The piece opens with a delicate, muffled atmosphere, evoking the sensation of standing in a dense, snow-covered forest at night. Faint, crystalline chimes and subtle field recordings of nature—perhaps wind or rustling branches—set a contemplative stage. A soft, heartbeat-like kick drum slowly emerges, establishing a steady, hypnotic pulse that mimics the rhythm of walking through deep snow.

As the track progresses, layers of organic percussion unfold. Wooden clicks, shaker-like textures, and the signature Gidge sound of 'found' percussion (stones, wood) create a tactile, rhythmic backbone. Around the three-minute mark, a warm, enveloping synth pad rises, contrasting the initial coldness with a sense of comfort and shelter. Vocal samples, chopped and heavily processed, drift in and out like ghostly memories, their words indistinguishable but their tone unmistakably filled with longing and intimacy.

The energy builds subtly, not into a peak-time drop, but into a trance-like state of flow. The interplay between the melancholy of the minor chords and the driving, yet soft, rhythm creates a feeling of 'forward motion through solitude.' The final third of the song sees the elements strip back down, leaving the listener with the fading warmth of the synths and the return of the forest's ambient silence, suggesting a journey completed or a safe haven found within the wilderness.

Midra was released on January 13, 2017, as part of the mini-album/EP LNLNN. The Swedish duo, Jonatan Nilsson and Ludvig Stolterman, hail from Umeå, a city in northern Sweden, and their production process is deeply rooted in their environment. They are known for recording field sounds—cracking branches, rustling leaves, and stone percussion—directly in the forests near their home.

The creation of LNLNN is unique in Gidge's discography. It serves as a bridge between their cinematic, beatless film score project, Lulin, and their dancefloor-oriented work. The duo explained that they took the raw, ambient stems and samples from Lulin and re-contextualized them, adding rhythm and structure to create "actual songs" that could work in a live setting. Midra exemplifies this hybrid approach: it retains the ghostly, cinematic atmosphere of the Lulin material but is driven by the propulsive, organic beats that define the Gidge sound.

The track was released via the Dutch label Atomnation, which has been the home for most of their major releases. It quickly became a fan favorite for its hypnotic length (over 8 minutes) and its ability to bridge the gap between home listening and the dancefloor.

As an instrumental electronic track, Midra does not follow a lyrical rhyme scheme. However, it possesses a sophisticated rhythmic language:

• Rhythm: The track is set in a 4/4 time signature, typical of house and techno, but with a highly syncopated, swung feel. The percussion grid is loose and "off-grid," avoiding the robotic stiffness of quantized electronic music. This "human feel" is central to Gidge's style.
• Tempo: The tempo sits in the downtempo/deep house range (approx. 115-120 BPM), gentle enough for relaxation but driving enough for movement.
• Pacing: The song follows a linear progression rather than a verse-chorus structure. It builds slowly over eight minutes, allowing the rhythm to establish a hypnotic groove before introducing melodic changes. This pacing mirrors the patience required in nature.

Gidge employs a signature blend of organic and electronic production techniques in Midra:

• Organic Percussion / Found Sound: Instead of standard drum machine samples, the track utilizes sounds recorded in nature. Wood blocks, stone clicks, and textured shakers create a rhythm that feels tactile and "woody."
• Micro-sampling: The vocal melody is constructed from micro-samples of a human voice, pitched and time-stretched to function as an instrument rather than a lyrical delivery. This adds a human element without dictating a specific narrative.
• Atmospheric Layering: The track is built on a bed of ambient noise and drone textures. These layers are often side-chained (ducked) against the kick drum, creating a breathing motion in the mix.
• Repetitive Minimalism: The structure relies on the gradual addition and subtraction of elements over a repetitive loop (ostinato). This technique, common in minimal techno, induces a trance-like state in the listener.
• Reverb and Space: Massive, hall-like reverbs are used on the melodic elements to create a sense of vast physical space, mimicking the acoustics of a large forest or canyon.

While Gidge operates in the niche spheres of ambient and electronica, Midra and the LNLNN EP have cemented their status as pioneers of the "organic electronic" sound. The song is a staple in the playlists of downtempo and study-music communities.

• Critical Acclaim: The track helped Gidge maintain momentum after their breakthrough debut Autumn Bells. Outlets like XLR8R and A Closer Listen praised the production quality and atmospheric depth of the release.
• Usage: The song is frequently used in "focus" and "relaxation" playlists on platforms like Spotify and YouTube, contributing to the "Nordic Noir" aesthetic in music.
• Legacy: It represents a maturation of Gidge's sound, moving from the purely pastoral vibes of their debut to a more polished, darker, and club-friendly aesthetic that influenced a wave of "forest techno" producers.

While instrumental, the sonic elements of Midra are rich with symbolic imagery:

• The Forest (Field Recordings): The pervasive background hiss and organic textures symbolize the natural world as a living, breathing entity. It grounds the electronic elements, suggesting that technology and nature can coexist harmoniously.
• The Beat (Heartbeat): The soft, thumping kick drum acts as a metaphor for the human pulse or resilience. It is the steady force that drives the listener forward through the "cold" soundscape.
• The Vocal Chops (Ghosts/Memories): The fragmented vocals represent indistinct memories or spirits. They are present but just out of reach, symbolizing the feeling of nostalgia where the emotion remains strong, but the specific details have faded.
• Warm vs. Cold: The track plays with the contrast between cold, high-frequency textures (symbolizing the Nordic winter) and warm, low-mid frequency pads (symbolizing shelter, fire, or human connection).

The song is defined by recurring musical motifs rather than lyrical phrases:

• The "Humming" Vocal Chop: A specific, wordless vocal melody repeats throughout the central section of the track. It acts as the song's hook, providing an emotional anchor that the listener anticipates.
• The Three-Note Bassline: A subtle, deep bass motif repeats underneath the texture, grounding the harmony and providing a warm foundation.
• The Shaker Loop: A continuous, textured high-frequency loop (sounding like sand or snow) runs through almost the entire track, creating a constant thread of motion.