Fear in a Handful of Dust

Fear in a Handful of Dust is the eighth studio album by Brazilian electronic musician Amon Tobin. It was released on 26 April 2019.

Fear in a Handful of Dust
Studio album by Amon Tobin
Released	26 April 2019
Label	Nomark
Amon Tobin chronology
Dark Jovian (2015) Fear in a Handful of Dust (2019)

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[1]
Exclaim!	8/10[2]
Sputnikmusic	[3]
The Wire	[4]

Paul Simpson of AllMusic described the album as "highly intricate electro-acoustic pieces that bring to mind composers like Morton Subotnick and György Ligeti 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."[1] Daryl Keating of Exclaim! 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."[2] Chris Ingalls of PopMatters 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."[5]

Track listing

All tracks written by Amon Tobin.

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

References

1. Simpson, Paul. "Amon Tobin – Fear in a Handful of Dust". AllMusic.
2. Keating, Daryl (23 April 2019). "Amon Tobin – Fear in a Handful of Dust". Exclaim!. Retrieved 24 May 2019.
3. Kuettel, Benjamin (26 April 2019). "Review: Amon Tobin – Fear in a Handful of Dust". Sputnikmusic. Retrieved 24 May 2019.
4. "Amon Tobin – Fear in a Handful of Dust". The Wire. May 2019. p. 51.
5. Ingalls, Chris (26 April 2019). "Amon Tobin Continues to Ply His Eerie Trade on the Otherworldly 'Fear in a Handful of Dust'". PopMatters. Retrieved 24 May 2019.