Nascimento & Ruscha’s Aquáticos is a teleporting time capsule that will drop you in the middle of the ocean before humans ever walked the Earth.
Release date: January 21, 2026 | Music From Memory | Bandcamp | Fabiano Do Nascimento Facebook | Instagram | Website | E Ruscha V Instagram
In my writing, I find myself frequently circling back to this idea of music being a vessel to experience things that would otherwise go unexperienced; here I am back at it, yet again to no one’s request. There simply is not enough time (without completely neglecting those in our lives) and money (unless you’re a soulless hack) to experience everything that is worth experiencing on this massively gorgeous world that we inhabit. As much as it saddens me that I won’t get to travel the world as much as I want, or do this or do that, I have accepted that I am content with who I am, what I have, and where I am at in life. This acceptance is only made possible knowing I have a reliable method of vicariously experiencing such things that I never would get to; that method isn’t just generally consuming music, but rather letting the right music consume you.
On that train of thought, one such thing that I’ll likely never get around to doing or witnessing in my lifetime (nor will most 99.99% of people realistically) is to explore the true beauty and depths of the ocean, even if it is just a quick little scuba dive excursion. There are various pieces of media, such as documentaries like Planet Earth, animated movies such as Finding Nemo, or video games like Subnautica (albeit on an alien planet), that do an excellent job in their own right, but experiencing the sheer magnitude and atmosphere firsthand is something that can only be captured and fully appreciated in person.
Regardless, these different pieces of media depict the ocean in uniquely various ways, giving us different glimpses of life underwater. More perspective on the matter through various mediums is something I will always welcome, and today we are here to do just that. The aptly titled Aquáticos, the new collaboration album from Fabiano Do Nascimento and E Ruscha V has emerged as the yet another sublime format to explore the deep blue from the comfort of your bed, desk, couch, toilet, DIY-submarine that hopefully stays in your garage; wherever you so choose.
Aquáticos is musically organic as can be, fusing together ambient, electronica, and Brazilian-folk inspired acoustic guitar to give the listener a window into the natural beauties of the deep blue. Nascimento brings his experimental approach to classical guitar alongside producer Ruscha’s extremely textured modular synth work and electronics; these two complement each other like peanut butter and jelly. The end result is an abstract, unintentional reimagining of the water level on Super Mario 64, but in full album form for you to enjoy to your heart’s content.
Kicking off the album, “Nascer” wastes zero time in immersing you, both literally and metaphorically, into the crystal clear waters yet untouched by the scourge of humanity. It is almost as if you can feel the presence of the sea life and rich biodiversity surrounding you. One particular instance that took me by surprise a few listens in was my noticing of these subtle electronic flourishes expertly crafted and positioned to mimic dolphins whistling and chirping to one another. I don’t know if it was a conscious decision to create that sound of aquatic life here, but that is exactly what they did. Those types of little details, as transient as they are, make this album feel so alive and rich.
The soft, ascending guitar arpeggios in “Rain” that overlap and pan from left to right sound as if they are bubbles gently floating to the surface through penetrating rays of sunlight. “Bio” is more ominous by nature, as the music here represents the eerie descent into the dark unknown. Overall, this album thrives on the juxtaposition between the raw, seemingly improvised (at least stylistically) classical guitar and the meticulously sculpted electronic textures, where Ruscha’s shimmering synths and pristine production create a high-fidelity backdrop for Nascimento’s organic grit.
It is always the albums (and artists) that I have zero knowledge of beforehand that continue to leave a long-lasting impact. Fabiano Do Nascimento and E Ruscha V bring together their irreproducible musical vision and execution to capture the very essence of the aquatic world on Aquáticos. Their unlikely fusion of styles yields a serenely tranquil musical experience that provides a unique glimpse into the deep unknown. Surely and unfortunately, this album will be a hidden gem that slowly sinks to the bottom of the sea, only discoverable by those willing to traverse the depths of the endless unknown.
