Release data: Deepspace – Slow Wave Cathedral DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Private Release, 2011 I’ve been following the ambient music by Mirko Ruckels, aka Deepspace, for quite some years now, and still think he’s a fine talent within and contributor with a unique voice to the genre. After a long hiatus, “Slow Wave Cathedral” was released in November 2011 containing pieces recorded in…
Release data: Mon0 – Colliding Textures DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Private Release, 2012 Somehow I missed out on this album by German synthesist Andre Zufall, aka Mon0, containing four tracks -all clocking over 10 minutes- of imaginary, overtly dense drone tapestries. “Colliding Textures” (52:30 min.) is a slow building and evolving aural travelogue of darker-flavored and remote spherescapes after a long fade in…
Release data: Mooma – Herd Forming DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Private Release, 2006 Imagine dwelling in a spacious, celestial, slow evolving and dreamy world of freeform textures with an overall relaxing impact. It’s an appropriate description for the mesmerizing aural landscape covered on the 61-minute “Herd Forming” by Finnish artist Mooma. The soothing ambience on each of the eight tracks (“They’ve killed our…
Release data: Bluetech – Dreaming into being CD/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Sounds True, 2013 “Dreaming into Being”, an exploration of expanded states of being, by Evan Bartholomew features seven tracks of pure, deep and spaced-out ambient soundscape bliss with embedded pulses and hypnotizing drones textures. For the composer the whole project proved a complete journey into in his personal dreaming practice and…
Release data: Michael Neil – Atmospheric Moods DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Private Release, 2009 These emotive soundscapes, all composed around the “Maisema” period, were made with the intention of offering music to soundtrack music producers in film and television. But after they had been sent out to a number of companies, none of them showed any interest. Slightly dejected Michael Neil decided to…
Release data: Klangwelt – The Incident CD/Digital Download, Spheric Music, 2018 “The Incident” sees the return of German audio designer Gerald Arend, aka Klangwelt, to the scene of electronic music after a pause of over a decade. The 79-minute result is a fresh vibrant and rather technical sounding display of contemporary electronic sounds and beautifully rendered textures. Still present are Klangwelt’s…
Release data: Pollard / Daniel / Booth – Eight CD/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Electronic Composers Outlet, 2018 UK-synthesists Brendan Pollard, Michael Daniel and Phil Booth are known for playing classic electronic music inspired by or reminiscent of mid 70’s TD using analogue gear only. In 2017 Brendan Pollard was very fortunate to be offered back to him three of his old modular system…
Release data: Wintherstormer – D.E.S.H. CD/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Pakusch Project Records, 2018 Since its birth, Terje Winther’s sonic endeavour Wintherstormer stands for none-conventional, totally improvised sequencer-based Berlin School-infused music. Besides a challenging and most peculiar approach, its soundings are also edgier, highly adventurous and overtly rough. The album’s title “D.E.S.H.”, an acronym for diatonic elaboration of static harmony, actually gives a…
Release data: Various Artists – The Sound of Syndae CD, Private Release, 2018 In January 2018 I was approached by Stefan Schulz, host of the German EM-podcast Syndae to join the jury to select music to go on Syndae’s 10th anniversary cd “The Sound of Syndae”, a compilation album scheduled for fall 2018. In total, 94 minutes of music/17 tracks (of…
Release data: Zanov – Open Worlds (live at Synthfest 2017) DVD, Private Release, 2017 This audio-visual release –limited to 100 numbered and autographed copies- documents Pierre Salkazanov’s performance at Nante’s Synthfest 2017 which was accompanied by beautiful cyberworld graphics as backdrop. The 60-minute disc contains tracks from the studio album “Open Worlds” mingled with two new themes. Characteristic Zanov sound design…
Release data: Jeff Pearce – Follow the river home CD/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Private Release, 2016 The spacious music on the 7-track “Follow the River Home” continues in Jeff’s signature sound of pastel-coloured guitar ambient paintings. The calming aural impressionist art displayed here by this Indiana-based composer flows onward peacefully and most harmonic while creating distinct atmospheric moods with the use of…
Release data: Parallel Worlds & Dave Bessell – Dystopia CD/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, DiN, 2018 The title of the duos second distance collaboration already suggests dark electronics -a style Bakis Sirros (aka Parallel Worlds) and Dave Bessell both appreciate a lot- and that’s what the listeners can expect here. As their debut “Morphogenic” already proved, Bakis has quite an intuitive approach to writing…
Release data: Biome – The Shores of Temenos CD-r/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Harmonic Resonance Recordings, 2018 Biome is a new side project of accomplished synthesist Gregory Kyryluk (better known and successful as Alpha Wave Movement since many years) with a sound spectrum far less spacey/Berlin School but roaming further in ambient-soundscape mode. In this respect the listener might pick up traces of ’90s…
Release data: Sayer – Interplanetary CD, Private Release, 2017 The sonic journey US-synthesist Sayer Seely undertook until now has brought the Em-community some interesting stuff. I’d even dare say any fan of melodic sequencing mixed with spiced-up electronics that hasn’t yet digged his stuff should keep an eye on this musician as his output ranks above average. Same as his…
Release data: Ashen Simian – Shambhala Mc/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Retroduction, 2018 Ami Hassinen’s “Shambhala” contains a collection of rather varied tracks -made with analog and digital synths as well as electric and acoustic guitar- intended to let the music take its own shape anyway it wants to. The 12 tracks sound contemporary, feature a slab of Berlin School style (“E Voice Phenomena”),…
Release data: Syn – Fauni-Genus CD-R/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Private Release, 2017 What I got here is a mini-album/Ep by David T. Dewdney aka Syn delivering another very moody and at times dreamy tribute to the classic Berlin School sound of the ‘70’s, most notably the atmospheric work by Tangerine Dream or Edgar Froese solo back then. Some tasty Farfisa organ along…
Release data: Ogre – Murals DIGITAL DOWNLOAD/MC, Private Release, 2017 UK composer, producer and synthesist Robin Ogden, aka Ogre, performed and captured the 30-minutes of music on “Murals” all in one take. Imminent from the start is the imaginary soundtrack flavor as well as a fascinating mysterious current found in two 15-minute long tracks, sonically staying close to spaced-out 1970s…
Release data: Robert Schroeder – New Frequencies Vol. 3 CD, News Music, 2018 The third volume in the series (kicked off in 2010) sees Robert Schroeder moving further into the domain of contemporary up-tempo, melodic electronics with various vocal samples along a distinct groovy as well as loungy touch. Its lushness and airiness also remind slightly of the 12 inches…
Release data: Nothing but Noise – eXistence Oscillation (possible) Future CD/USB-Stick, Private Release, 2018 As was the case with their two previous releases in the eXistence Oscillation trilogy, this third chapter steps out of the ordinary once more, pushing the boundaries as it wanders into the terrain of stark, minimalist and daring vintage electronics. For “eXistence Oscillation (possible) Future”, the duo…
Release data: Brock Van Wey – White clouds drift on and on CD/Lp/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Echospace, 2009 Being an avid fan of emotional-driven ambient music it was just a matter of time before I would run into the postmodern minimalist ambient of musician and dj Brock Van Wey, who seems better known as dub-techno act Bvdub. His debut “White clouds drift on…
Release data: Meg Bowles – Evensong – Canticles for the Earth CD/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Kumatone Records, 2018 Although the word “Evensong” most often refers to the traditional Anglican Church service, various forms of prayer and song at the end of the day have been practiced by humankind across cultures for thousands of years. On a personal level, US-based composer Meg Bowles…
Release data: Matthew Florianz – Onontgonnen DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Private Release, 2017 Many of the works of accomplished ambient composer and sound designer Matthew Florianz feature carefully moulded intrinsic and deep ambiences with an adventurous approach. “Onontgonnen” (a Dutch word meaning uncharted) is an aural journey for the slow lane leading the listener into uncharted terrain, a 60-minute atmospheric ambient world…
Release data: Three-Six (36) – Circuit Bloom MC/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, 3Six Recordings, 2018 Dennis Huddleston’s EP “Circuit Bloom” -serving as a companion to an upcoming full-length album to be released in the second half of 2018- contains six piano-based tape loops exploring the themes of loneliness, emptiness and escape. These are peaceful, gentle swirling soundscapes with a profound sense of mournfulness…
Release data: Arc – Arclight DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, DiN, 2015 Similar to bands like AirSculpture, ARC is at their best when they play live in front of a dedicated audience, busy delivering an outcome suitable for release. “Arclight” is another fine testament of that, containing the full, almost 90 minute concert performed in Liverpool’s Capstone Theatre in November 2014. As usual…
Release data: Altus – Pioneer DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Private Release, 2018 A lot of the music released by Canadian composer Mike Carss (aka Altus) has been the sonic companion for travelling inward or into the grand outward expanse. The latter category applies to the 67-minute “Pioneer” where we leave Earth behind and travel beyond our solar system. Altus has come up…
Release data: AirSculpture – Travelling Light CD/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Private Release, 2018 The AirSculpture guys are still alive and kicking, hereby releasing another most vibrant live document with a 100% improvised outcome as usual. The slightly edited outcome (to bring it down to cd length but without losing any music) is from their sparkling headline set at E-Day 2015 in Oirschot,…
Release data: Dreamfire – Atlantean Symphony CD, Minotauro Records, 2018 This factory-pressed re-issue is a completely remastered and extended version of the original 12-track seamless musical journey released privately by the composer in 2012. This definitive edition features stunning new artwork and booklet design plus two bonus tracks: a 2018 reworking of the original album’s finale, “An Epitaph Engraved In…
Release data: Gert Emmens & Ruud Heij – Galaxis CD, Private Release, 2018 Special recordings come in various form. Gert Emmens & Ruud Heij chose to release this great looking triple cd set on E-Day 2018 to celebrate 15 years of collaboration that started in May 2003. With “Galaxis” as a title it’s obvious we’re invited to join the duo…
Release data: Sequentia Legenda – Renaissance CD/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Private Release, 2018 Laurent Schieber’s fifth album “Renaissance” (working title “Immersion”) is another dedication and a further attempt to come as close as possible to the core sound of the vintage era of electronic music and the roots of the Berlin School using modern instrumentation and techniques. The latter made it easier…
Release data: Aperus – Lie Symmetry CD, Geophonic Records, 2018 A strange but at the same time intruiging set of accidentally made landscape photographs by a cell phone grace the cover of “Lie Symmetry”, a title derived from the math used to describe the stunning visual patterns that occur when cobalt ions are cooled down to absolute zero. Sonically, this…
Release data: Flames of Genesis – A Bridge to Further Realms CD/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Minotauro Records, 2017 Flames of Genesis is the name of a project by the same composer -also known as The Voyager- who’s producing music as Dreamfire. It was actually was born out of the creativity going in a totally different direction that didn’t fit the Dreamfire-concept. “A…
Release data: Stefan Erbe – Genesys CD/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Erbe Music, 2017 With “Genesys” (subtitled: a journey of virtual spacedesign and artificial intelligence) German synthesist Stefan Erbe offers his listeners an album of fresh modern space music, contemporary melodic/rhythmic electronics inspired by and committed to a cosmic theme. The slower, more spherical tracks -mostly found in the first half- don’t stray…
Release data: Chuck Van Zyl – Recitals 2 CD, Synkronos Music, 2018 “Recitals 2”, following in the footsteps of the previous volume, features a selection of live pieces recorded at two late 2017 performances. As happened on the previous volume, Chuck again takes his own turn on the classic/teutonic Berlin School style of the ’70’s most notably the vintage works…
Release data: Free System Projekt & Terje Winther – Spoon Forest CD/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Private Release, 2018 At the start of the ‘70s Tangerine Dream created some impressive soundworlds and haunting atmospheres on “Phaedra” and “Rubycon”. A similar aural spirit is found on “Spoon Forest”, a 70-minute recording featuring three 20-minute tracks for which Marcel, Ruud and Terje each were in…
Release data: Steve Roach – Molecules of Motion CD/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Projekt Records, 2018 “Molecules of Music” sees Steve Roach venture into thoughtful, rather complex and minimal aural territory through a myriad of Berlin School-infused, carefully unfolding and evolving analogue lengthy pieces which the composer refers to as “meditations upon elegant motion and electro-sensual space”. Created on analog modular -big and…
Release data: MoonSatellite – Strange Music CD-R/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Private Release, 2018 While listening to the 65 minutes of music on this album (depicted by the composer as the culmination of “Dark Summer”) I wondered what’s actually “strange” about it as the aural footprint of Jarre’s first two albums is still shining true clearly. Or it might be -compared to Mr…
Release data: Vanderson – Sequenced Thoughts CD/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Spheric Music, 2018 According the composer’s note in the booklet, this album is probably his last one containing classic electronic music. Can’t say I would feel bad about that as Maciej’s Berlin School-infused music hasn’t shown any progress or change for many years. This also goes for the featured four lengthy tracks…
Release data: Cosmic Ground – Cosmic Ground IV CD/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Private Release, 2018 This is Cosmic Ground’s first release containing a couple of shorter compositions aside lengthier ones which sees Dirk Jan Müller explore the still intriguing electronic sound of the ’70s and beyond further. From the start it’s clear the 78-minute “IV” pulls the listener into intense, dense vintage…
Release data: Peter Challoner – Subsequence CD-R/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Ambient Sound Projects, 2018 “Subsequence” was born out of the composer’s wish to do an album that was all sequencer composed tracks just to see if he could do it. This approach applies also to his previous record “Convergence”. So almost gone are the pure ambient textures (although they still linger in…
Release data: Ambiscend – Tranquility CD/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Imagineer Records, 2018 Ambiscend is composer Darren Rogers hailing from West Texas who started his own label Imagineer Records some 20 years ago to help promote new age and ambient music. As the title of this album already indicates, “Tranquility” is a work that helps to break break away from the high demands,…
Release data: Node – Node Live CD/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, DiN, 2018 The rare concert that three of the original members of Node assisted by distinguished Hollywood film composer and ambient music designer Mel Wesson gave at London’s Royal College of Music in 2015 offered the audience the unique opportunity to hear the interaction between the musicians happening in real time and…
Release data: [‘ramp] No sleep ’til wilmersdorf CD/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Doombient, 2018 “No sleep ‘til wilmersdorf” (the Berlin years 1978/79) is a 76-minute continuous aural travelogue through space and time seeing the composer remember and reflect upon his childhood spent in a village near Berlin. Besides the use of a vast range of analogue equipment, the 8-track outcome features profound mood…
Release data: Skoulaman – Next Step in Evolution CD/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Groove Unlimited, 2018 The progress I noted on Hans van Kroonenburg’s previous album “Andros Awakenings” has finally led to his first factory-pressed cd on a major Em-label: “Next Step in Evolution”. Next to a much more structured style and some hints of Vangelis, the Berlin School-based outcome is characterized by…
Release data: Max Corbacho – Nocturnes II CD/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Silentsun, 2018 This second instalment of the “Nocturnes” trilogy reconnects seamlessly to the deep, gentle and intimate atmospherics of the first album delivering 70 minutes of mesmerizing night (at times even tactile) ambiences incorporating various mysterious, dreamful and visceral aural currents. The strong 20-minute “Celistia” kicking off the 70-minute album already…
Release data: Robert Rich – The Biode CD/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Soundscape Productions, 2018 Coined by the composer as a surrealist electronic journey through the microbiome, “The Biode” -featuring heavy use of modular synths and the Haken Continuum- harkens back to Robert’s 2001 album “Bestiary”. The two opening tracks are in- your-face abstract-experimental and pretty hard to digest. Fortunately the outcome becomes…
Release data: Erren – Fleissig – Schöttler – Steffen – Tidal Shift CD/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Private Release, 2018 “Tidal Shift” by the German quartet Jörg Erren, Bert Fleißig, Jochen Schöttler and Christian Steffen appears a four year hiatus. As was the case with their previous releases the outcome was realized during a week of happy jamming and improvising in a holiday…
Release data: Wavestar II – Nightwinds CD/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Groove Unlimited, 2018 Wavestar II sees John Dyson accompanied by accomplished composers and studio-technicians Paul Ward and Stephen Whitlan continuing the sonic quest where Wavestar left us many years ago. “Nightwinds” contains 78 minutes of warm, melodic and accessible electronic music John Dyson had been working on for long (but never was…
Release data: Steen Chorchendorff Jorgensen – Internal Moments CD-R/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Private Release, 2010 Steen Chorchendorff Jørgensen, hailing from Denmark, hereby presents 13 tracks of melodic chill-out mood music evaporating a slight resemblance with Tangerine Dream’s “Exit” in the two-part opening track “Mind Journey”, venturing into relaxed ambient-electronic dance after that. Despite the well-meant intentions and efforts, the 58-minute outcome isn’t…
Release data: Patrick Kosmos – Monument CD/Digital Download, Groove Unlimited, 2018 “Monument”, part of the private-released “Chronicles” cd-r box set, sure will jog the memory and stir the appetite of Em-fans around the world, especially those in Europe who were able to see Belgium synthesist Patrick Kosmos (aka Patrick Wille De Wael) live in action in the ’80s and ’90s…
Release data: Jeff Greinke – Before Sunrise CD/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Spotted Peccary Music, 2018 When it comes to the works of Arizona-based musician, composer, performer, sound sculptor and visual artist Jeff Greinke, music and creative process have always been inspired by his personal visual, aural, and sensual (particularly meteorological) experiences of the world around him. The abstract, emotive-charged and desolate aural…
Release data: Seifert & Steinbüchel – The CERN Concert DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Pleasure Sound Music, 2017 It’s not too farfetched to hear similarities of Schiller, Jarre, modern TD and some Ultimae-artists in Seifert & Steinbüchel’s straightforward, tight and high-tech electronics making up this release. “The CERN Concert”, a 60-minute live recording from 2010, offers some previously unreleased special remixes from their…
Release data: Wanderwelle – Lost in a sea of trees LP/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Silent Season, 2017 Imagine a lone traveler entering a dark, ancient forest, being lured deep into the woods by something not of this world as he enters uncharted grounds. Step by step his journey is getting darker as he encounters strange phenomena and beings among the trees. This…
Release data: Chihei Hatakeyama – Heavy Snow CD-R/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, White Paddy Mountain, 2017 “Heavy Snow” is a tranquil, serene and ethereal soundscape recording by Japanese artist Chihei Hatakeyama. It captures the timeless atmosphere of deep winter and its white expanse. The textures on the five tracks evolve in a dreamy, slow-minimalist fashion with an occasional sparkle or drift of warm…
Release data: Bernd Kistenmacher – Disintegration CD/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, MIRecords, 2017 The last two decades quite a few EM albums have seen the light of day concerning global environmental problems, the dangers of nuclear power and the ongoing destruction of nature caused by humans. German synthesist Bernd Kistenmacher added his first two cents already with his 2014-album “Paradise” and now with…
Release data: Numina – The Chroma Plateau CD/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Spotted Peccary Music, 2018 Numina’s “The Chroma Plateau” required a long-term recording process, taking US-composer Jesse Sola about two years to work on. Because of this lengthy process, there are a lot of mixed moments of inspiration, influence and emotion. As there is no particular theme or concept behind the music,…
Release data: Jeff Pearce –From the Darker Seasons CD/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Private Release, 2017 Slow, deeper ambient worlds, ethereal synth beds and guitar-based atmospheric spacemusic with a highly emotive thread have graced the works of Jeff Pearce until now. “From the Darker Seasons”, celebrating the hidden beauty in the slow fading of autumn and in the blanketed landscapes of winter, features…
Release data: Kloob – Remarkable Events CD, Winter-Light, 2018 The origin of “Remarkable Events” happened in April 2016 as Barcelona-based synthesist Daniel Ferreira, aka Kloob, planned to assemble a mix of tracks in the same vein as featured on “Solid Foundations”. This time though he wanted things traveling deeper and sounding more intimate while taking full advantage from the ins…
Release data: As Lonely as Dave Bowman – Monolith CD/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Projekt, 2015 Now here’s a project fully inspired by and related to the cinematic art of Stanley Kubrick. Being named after the astronaut in Kubrick’s “2001, A Space Odyssey”, “Monolith” is also the fully electronic concept album by Sam Rosenthal providing a soundtrack for the final four months of…
Release data: Annemarie Borg – In Nomine Tellus CD, Gterma, 2018 The cover of this 6-panel superfile release is graced by a beautiful panorama pic of the Alaska Range. “In Nomine Tellus”, the second album of a trilogy dedicated to our world by environmentalist/composer/writer/ visual artist Annemarie Borg, follows “In Nomine Cetus” (2014) and precedes “In Nomine Stellae” (scheduled for…
Release data: Kurtz Mindfields & Taj Mahal – Analogic Touch CD/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Electrik Dream, 2017 Subtitled “From Berlin School to Ambient Electronica”, this release by Kurtz Mindfields (aka Jean-Luc Briançon) and TajMahal (aka Stephane Gallay) looks like a fun project for which various friends (such as Robert Rich, Jean-Michel Zanetti and Oliver Grall) were invited as well. Most of all…