Release data: Jerome Froese –Nightshade Family (live) CD, Moonpop, 2011 “Nightshade Family” is a release put out by the Moonpop label after a long period of popular demand for a live document, here presented as a complete live set with outtakes from various concerts in 2005 and 2006 without overdubs or audience noise. Creator of so-called “guitartronica”, multi-instrumentalist Jerome Froese…
Release data: Star Sounds Orchestra – Kosmophonon CD-R/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Mellowjet Records, 1992/2007 Originally released in 1992 on CMS Music, “Kosmophonon” is a symphonic ambient/space music album by Star Sound Orchestra, aka Jens Zygar and Steve Schroyder (who briefly was part of Tangerine Dream in the early 70s). The album features seven planetary tuned pieces, apparently based on the cosmic octaves,…
Release data: Jeff Pearce –The Hidden Rift CD, Ancient Sun Music, 1996 When you talk about quiet, atmospheric ambient music, the name of Indiana-based space-guitarist Jeff Pearce most certainly should be mentioned. Having previously collaborated with the Vidna Obmana on “Crossing the Trail”, Jeff hereby presents his second solo-album “The Hidden Rift”. Using only e-guitars and specialized processing techniques, Mr…
Release data: Jeff Pearce – Tenderness and Fatality CD, Windchime Music, 1993 “Tenderness and Fatality” is the self-released debut album of Indiana-based composer Jeff Pearce, who later on would get known for his highly atmospheric ambient music. While using no keyboards or guitar synthesizers, Mr Pearce has composed 11 lush tracks made up of slow moving ambient guitar textures. Listening…
Release data: Vanderson – From The Bottom Of Space CD-R/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, SynGate, 2010 A few years back I was impressed by the music featured on Vanderson’s album “Echoes of Darkness”. “From the Bottom of Space” (composed between 2008 and 2009) doesn’t disappoint either. This time the vintage music is offered in shorter tracks and seems to focus more on soundscaping…
Release data: Wellenfeld – Sunshine CD-R/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Mellowjet Records, 2008 “Sunshine” contains nine well-composed and executed studio tracks recorded by Wellenfeld (aka the German duo Detlef Dominiczak and Andreas Braun) between April 2006 and February 2008. The outcome is accessible melodic music with spatial sequencer patterns and warm synth pads along captivating leads, of which album opener New York is…
Release data: Remotion – Beyond Reality DIGITAL EP, Private Release, 2013 Back in 2001, the Dutch duo Remotion (aka Richard Stuij and Arjan Steenbergen) released their album “Between Fiction and Reality” on Groove Unlimited, a fine album that still works for me until the present day. Only recently, Remotion decided to bring that album into the digital age. To celebrate…
Release data: Wellenfeld – Trip to Illusion CD-R, SynGate, 2006 “Trip to Illusion” is the third release by the German duo Detlef Dominiczak and Andreas Braun, aka Wellenfeld. The nicely designed album features eight tracks with overall mainstream electronic music. Unfortunately, I couldn’t detect any sparkle in it that made it a bit more interesting than other recordings in the…
Release data: Gert Emmens & Cadenced Haven – Life in Cosmic Highway CD, Groove Unlimited, 2011 It was just a question of time before Gert Emmens & Cadenced Haven (aka Laila Quraishi) would join forces on a full-length album. Besides being partners and soul mates since a while, Gert already helped out on Cadenced Haven’s debut “Peregrination”. And now there’s…
Release data: René Splinter – Transit Realities CD-R/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Mellowjet Records, 1992-2010 “Transit Realities” offers 10 tracks of sequencer-based melodic music dealing with journeys through both the real world and the virtual equivalent. Recorded in 1992 and 1993, the music ended up being shelved without being released, but fortunately was re-discovered by the Dutch composer in recent years and reworked…
Release data: Sverre Knut Johansen – Distant Shore CD, Origo Sound, 1994 As far as I know, “Distant Shore” is the debut album by the Norwegian multi-instrumentalist Sverre Knut Johansen, who proves he’s also one hell of a composer in about 70 minutes. The ten minute title track, assembling rhythms and both symphonic and intimate passages, is already a great…
Release data: [‘ramp] Steel and Steam CD, Doombient Music, 2011 Again based on and inspired by collaborations with other musicians, “Steel and Steam” sees Stephen Parsick expertly pursue the quest of [‘ramp] through the vast landscapes of energetic vintage electronics, although now all on his own. The ten tracks on this album are all centered around “bulldozer” sequencer patterns and…
Release data: Schönwälder & Rothe – Filter-Kaffee 101 CD-R/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, SynGate, 2011 “Filter-Kaffee 101” is the first collaborative project by Mario Schönwälder & Frank Rothe, who composed the music for this album between 2007 and 2011. The 66-minute outcome, presented as eight different “cups”, is melodic and rhythmic sequencer music featuring lots of vintage sound textures and warm solos hovering…
Release data: Ken Elkinson – Music for Commuting Volumes 1 – 6 CD, August Son Productions, 2011 Now here’s a peculiar release of a Los Angeles-based musician who decided to try his efforts in the ambient music genre after he had previously composed and released nine albums of solo piano music. Ken Elkinson’s “Music for Commuting” is a triple cd-box…
Release data: Hashtronaut – Bottle Universe CD-R/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Flightlog Restricted Recordings, 2006 “Bottle Universe” is the second album of by Michael Daniel, who goes by the name of Hashtronaut. Well, this guy knows what he’s doing as his attractive Berlin School inspired space music contains some catchy solo’s and sequencing which strongly resemble those of Klaus Schulze. Although the cover…
Release data: Frederick Rousseau – Abyss CD, Origins, 1997 After two concept albums about woods, the French composer Frédérick Frederick Rousseau now turns to the mysteries and isolation of the ocean deeps. Regarding the content of “Abyss”, Rousseau refers to it being “no music”, an experience realised with neurologists specialised in music therapy. The cd contains four long uninterrupted tracks,…
Release data: Leonardo Rosado – Opaque Glitter CD-R/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, FeedbackLoop, 2011 With “Opaque Glitter”, derived from approximately 1h30 of source music, experimental artist Leonardo Rosado has created a textural drone album with an assortment of lost and found sounds. Beside the organic and slightly harsh edge, this imaginary music with a touch of melody reminds of Pascal Savy in abstract…
Release data: Astropilot – Solar Walk CD/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Altar Records, 2010 AstroPilot is the artist name of the Russian composer Dmitry V. Red’ko. Over the last few years, his music mainly appeared as single tracks on various down-tempo/chill-out compilations, most recently on the last part of Ultimae’s Fahrenheit Project. The 69-minute “Solar Walk” is his second full-length release, which has…
Release data: Max Corbacho – Lost Links DIGITAL DOWNLOAD/CD-R, Relaxed Machinery, 2011 For “Lost Links”, the first volume in a series, Max Corbacho assembled a collection of tracks which were shelved in his archive although they were initially composed to fit on a concept album, compilation or into a commisioned project. Known for his well-crafted and expansive/atmospheric music, Mr Corbacho…
Release data: Various Artists – Fahrenheit Project Part Seven CD, Ultimae Records, 2011 The French Ultimae-label brings the Fahrenheit Project Collection to an end with the 76-minute “Fahrenheit Project part seven”, offering a last bunch of fresh, contemporary and progressive downtempo electronica in Ultimae realm. The featured artists are Asura, Solar Fields, Scann-Tec, Field Rotation, Maurizio Piazza and Hol Baumann…
Release data: Redshift – Colder CD, Distant Sun Production, 2011 “Colder” comprises six energetic and exciting tracks of all-new music by Redshift (Mark and Julian Shreeve assisted by the trusted Ian Boddy) which the trio confidently executed live at the Hampshire Jam 9 festival. The massive sound and evocative sequencer patterns of Mark’s grand modular is spot on oncemore, with…
Release data: Robert Carty – Photonic Movements DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Private Release, 2011 All EM-fans out there looking for a nice addition to their ambient space music collection, make sure to check out Robert Carty’s offering “Photonic Movements”. Kicking off with the 32-minute ultimate drift “Shimmering”, this 60-minute album features three long sonic excursions of gentle and smooth space music airing…
Release data: Hashtronaut – The Lambda Variant CD-R/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Flightlog Restricted Recordings, 2006 Hashtronaut is the artist name of UK-based synthesist/guitarist Michael Daniel. His fifth album “The Lambda Variant” comprises two lengthy pieces of 26 and 24 minutes each, both heavily influenced by the Berliner School style of Klaus Schulze. The title track starts out smoothly with bell tones and…
Release data: Bas B. Broekhuis – The Escher Drawings CD, Synteam/Groove Unlimited, 1991/2004 Bas Broekhuis belongs to the Eindhovense School of electronic musicians such as Ron Boots, Eric van der Heijden, Niko Olofsen and Ad van Gerven. Together with Ron Boots he founded the Synteam label in 1990, and also joined the KLEM-subdivision KLONE that pushed him to release his…
Release data: Memory Geist – Benthos DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, DiN, 2011 DiN’s ninth download-only album “Benthos”, which took about four years to complete, is the second release by Memory Geist, a collaborative project of Steve Law (of Zen Paradox, Starseed Transmission & Black Cab) and Bakis Sirros (of Parallel Worlds & Interconnected). Compared to their debut album “Funeral Cavern”, the music…
Release data: Norman Rose – Space Trails CD-R, Touch the Light, 2002 The album “Space Trails” by California-based synthesist Norman Rose belongs to the list of authentic electronic space music, combining warm and inviting sounds with a sense of melodrama and a few symphonic hints. The 12 cosmic tone poems on the album all evoke this dreamy but also romantic…
Release data: Rising Star – Cosmic WorksRising Star – Cosmic Works CD-R, Private Release, 2001 From the backcover of this cd I learned “Cosmic Works” is a live-in-concert recording made in Chico, CA, USA on 01-27-2001. Marc Handschuh, aka Rising Star, presents us a continuous evolving soundscape blanket of spacious textural sounds, divided in seven pieces. Well, this is pretty…
Release data: David Parsons – Dorje Ling CD, Fortuna records, 1992 The sonic fabric on Mr Parsons “Dorje Ling” continues very nicely in the realm of mystic Tibet and the Indian culture. The release was inspired by David Parsons subsequent return to Dharamsala, India, known as the home of Tibetan Buddhism in exile. It later on charged Mr Parsons to…
Release data: Tim Blake – Blake’s New Jerusalem CD/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Egg/Mantra Records, 1978/1992 Synthesist Tim Blake (of Hawkwind, Crystal Machine and Gong fame) is one of those “dinosaurs” responsible for some classic electronic music made at the end of the ‘70’s. From the futuristic cover of “Blake’s New Jerusalem” one could easily derive this is a kind of soundtrack for…
Release data: Steve Rose – The Diminishing Day CD-R/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Private Release, 2011 The completion of the dreamy ambient release “The Diminishing Day”, very nicely mastered by the capable Robert Rich, took Steve (Austin) Rose over two years. The outcome, realized by synths and e-guitars, still realms in smooth soundscape territory, but on the go appears to be leaning a…
Release data: Brain Laughter – In the Land of Power CD, Spotted Peccary Music, 1989 The focus of the Brain Laughter-project, started by label owner Howard Givens, was to create a “grand collaboration” of artists from the Spotted Peccary label with the intent on exploring musical impressions of the Sonoran Desert in the Southwest region of North America. Setting the…
Release data: Patrick O’Hearn – Rivers Gonna Rise CD, Private Music, 1988 On his third album “Rivers gonna rise”, Mr O’Hearn implements a good portion of frettless bass to his fine alchemy of electronic sounds. The sound of the ten tracks is upbeat, bright and airs a beautiful sense of hope. Contrary to his previous two releases, the music on…
Release data: René van der Wouden – Panorama CD-R/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, REWO Records, 2011 It is my impression Dutch synthesist René van der Wouden has evolved to a skilled painter of sonic landscapes on the 77-minute “Panorama”. The recording, of which the four tracks were composed between September 2008 and November 2010, sets off with the almost 32-minute “Underwater Sideviews”. This…
Release data: David Parsons – Yatra CD, Fortuna records, 1990 The double album “Yatra” is due to Mr Parsons’ ongoing passion for India and his personal interest in the physics of sound creation, which he was able to transform into ethno-space music. The outcome mirror’s David’s inner journey and experiences while he travelled through India, meeting its people and breathing…
Release data: David Parsons – Tibetan Plateau + Sounds of the Mothership CD, Fortuna records, 1980/1982 This 74-minute cd release from 1991 comprises the music from the cassette releases “Tibetan Plateau” and “Sounds of the Mothership” (only the 27-minute track “Voyage from the Mothership” from the “Tibetan Plateau” mc was left out due to time constraints). Both recordings are what…
Release data: Patrick O’Hearn – Indigo CD, Private Music, 1991 After Patrick O’Hearn turned up a different musical alley on his previous album “Eldorado”, his fifth album “Indigo” wanders into darker and mysterious flavoured but most fascinating spaces. At times, its music is almost soundtrack-like (especially the beautiful opening track “Devil’s Lake”), as the whole album continues in the typical…
Release data: David Parsons – Himalaya CD, Fortuna records, 1989 The ethno-electronic music on “Himalaya” reflects the beauty and impact of Indian and Tibetan culture music. As the previous albums, it was inspired by David’s ongoing contact and extensive stays with Tibetan Monks living in exile in Northern India. It also allowed David to make recordings of their mystic chants…
Release data: Various Artists – Electronic Music For Life CD/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Mellowjet Records, 2011 Due to the devastating earthquake, followed by a tsumani and a nuclear disaster that hit Japan in March 2011, the seed was planted to produce a special compilation cd of which all benefits are donated to the German Red Cross for help to all the victims.…
Release data: Glyn Lloyd-Jones – Chaotic Attraction DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Private Release, 2011 Mr Lloyd Jones is able to surprise me with every new album he comes up with, and “Chaotic Attraction” is no exception to that. Beside the modern classical feel to the music on this newbie, Glyn remains a master of combining melodic lines with infectious sequenced patterns, creating…
Release data: Kevin Braheny – The Way Home CD, Hearts of Space Records, 1978/1984 “The Way Home” was one of the first releases on the Hearts of Space records. The first draft of this classic space album (originally called “Perelandra”, as it was named after the C.S. Lewis science fiction novel of the same name) was recorded in early 1978.…
Release data: Mychael Danna – Sirens CD, Hearts of Space Records, 1991 The debut album “Sirens”, initially only released as cassette, offers a 46-minute collection of minimal orchestral/symphonic electronics by Canadian Mychael Danna, who later on established himself as a successful soundtrack composer. It’s also a concept album dealing with the femine psyche, taking the listener into worlds beyond the…
Release data: Neuronium – Chromium Echoes CD, Tuxedo Music/Private release, 1982 For me, “Chromium Echoes” is a classic album of Spanish synthesist Michel Huygen, aka Neuronium, who got some great assistance of Carlos Guirao. The sound of this album is warm and profound analogue. The release offers three moody compositions displaying the beautiful sounds and impact of vintage gear by…
Release data: John Broaddus – Afield DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Parnassusnump Records, 2011 After seven years of silence, US ambient composer John Broaddus brings us “Afield”, which offers an adventurous journey into sound processing within the concept of minimal ambient. The seeds for this recording are found in various field recordings made in Los Angeles, San Francisco and Paris, which Mr Broaddus…
Release data: Szymon Kaliski – For Isolated Recollections CD-R/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Hibernate records, 2011 When you talk about less is more in ambient music, it’s worth having a listen to the Ep “For Isolated Recollections” by young composer Szymon Kalisk, who lives in a small town near Poznań, Poland. The four pieces on the 20-minute release are all assembled from simple…
Release data: Steve Roach – Journey of One (The Tribal Ambient Era, Live 1996) CD, Projekt, 2011 As many Steve Roach fans will know, the start of the 1990’s marked an uprise of profound tribal-ambient electronic music, a genre Steve already explored on releases such as “Early man”, “World’s Edge”, “Origins” and the stunning “Dreamtime Return”. It was a period…
Release data: Danna & Clément – The Best of Danna & Clément CD-R, Earthaven/Mirage, 2005 This is a 70-minute compilation album by the Canadian duo Danna & Clément who made several ambient releases together which all have been unavailable for a long time. “The Best of Danna & Clément” is a special edition release including a limited edition full-colour eight-page…
Release data: Tim Story – Beguiled CD, Hearts of Space, 1991 Those who love melancholic instrumental and somewhat eccentric music are at the right spot with the contemporary ambient music of Tim Story. On “Beguiled”, Martha Reikow joins Mr Story on cello, while Tim himself plays synths, sampling instruments, treatments, piano, and e-guitar. Tim about the recording: “Despite its simplicity,…
Release data: The Black Dog – Radio Scarecrow CD, Soma Recordings Limited, 2008 The Black Dog is a techno-ambient project from the UK consisting of Ken Downie and the brothers Martin and Richard Dust. The output of “Radio Scarecrow”, mixed as one continuous sequence, fits nicely in the framework of intelligent, refined and detailed IDM-electronica with subtle elements and twists,…
Release data: Mychael Danna – Skys CD, Hearts of Space, 1992 “Skys” is a concept album by Mychael Danna, inspired by the big cold Canadian skyscapes through the year. The rich electro-acoustic music, by Mr Danna describes as orchestral romantic-minimalism, offers ten cinematic, airy themes encapsulating the grandeur and beauty of these massive skypaintings. These aural imaginations are beautifully rendered…
Release data: Steve Roach – Live at SoundQuest Fest CD/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Timeroom Editions, 2011 This album documents the first 74 minutes of the concert Steve Roach and friends performed at the first SoundQuest music festival held on October 23, 2010. Album opener is the strong 28-minute “Momentum of Desire”, a pure electronic undertaking with a profound high-tech rim which makes…
Release data: Johannes Schmoelling – The Zoo of Tranquillity CD, Viktoriapark Records, 1988/2010 Until today, I always had quite some trouble enjoying Johannes second album “The Zoom of Tranquility”. The version reviewed here is the original 1988-tapes remastered of the original 2-track tapes which appeared on lp in 1988. This cd doesn’t contain the two bonus tracks of the 1998…
Release data: Przemysław Rudź – Cerulean Legacy CD, Generator.pl, 2011 After finishing his previous trilogy, Polish synthesist Przemysław Rudź brings us a new concept album of progressive electronics, in which the technology theme remains a core element. At first the music didn’t really touch me nor seemed it that cohesive, but this changed after I had several closer listens to…
Release data: Rasalhague – Rage inside the Window CD, Malignant Records, 2011 The musician behind the dark/experimental ambient project Rasalhague is one Kerry Braud, hailing from Indiana. The concept album “Rage inside the Window” (inspired by a true criminal event of a young child neglected by her own mother, being imprisoned in filth and squalor) offers terrifying, industrial and harsh…
Release data: Somnarium – Frost DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Private Release, 2011 With the album “Frost”, composer Michael Meara brings us another fine release of smooth ambient sonics, this time inspired by profound cold weather conditions. The five expansive vistas offer subtle, gentle, orchestral and symphonic renditions with some piano, overall breathing the fresh atmospherics and the remoteness of cold plains and…
Release data: Barbelo & Jorge Reyes – Ethnoaural CD, Barbelo Music, 2008 Barbelo is the Mexican, Monterrrey-based duo Rodolfo Garza (aka Arkha Nous) and Daniel Trevino (aka Xak) who have joined forces with Jorge Reyes (who sadly passed away in February 2009) for this album. “Ethnoaural” features 44 minutes of ethnic flavoured electro-acoustic ambient compositions in which Reyes distinct fingerprints…
Release data: Marsen Jules – Nostalgia CD/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Oktaf, 2011 Marsen Jules is a project by the German musician Martin Juhls, who is composing music since 2005. Presented as the “long awaited continuation of his classic “Herbstlaub”, the overall flavour of “Nostalgia” made me think of the releases on the Palace of Light label: although musically different, it evokes a…
Release data: Ishq – Skyspaces CD, Virtual Light, 2011 “Skyspaces” is the first album on Virtual Light, a new series adapted by Ishq (aka Matt Hillier), of which all releases will have an emphasis on space, light and minimalism rather than the more complex and detailed soundscape style feautured on the Virtual World series. As Matt further explains, the ambient…
Release data: Ian Boddy & Parallel Worlds – Exit Strategy CD, DiN, 2011 The Ian Boddy and Bakis Sirros album “Exit Strategy” (the 37th physical DiN-release, limited to 600 copies) is a profound energetic and analogue affair with a strong organic edge. From the press release I learned Mr Sirror planted the seed for the project by delivering a series…
Release data: Steve Roach & Erik Wøllo – The Road Eternal CD, Projekt, 2011 “The Road Eternal” is the second collaborative album by Steve Roach and Erik Wøllo, following up their 2009-release “Stream of Thought”. The framework and fundament of the albums music was layed down by the two composers in the days following directly after the Steve’s first SoundQuest…
Release data: Noryani – Northeast 117 CD, Generator.pl, 2011 (Adrian) Noryani is a new name introduced by the Polish Generator-label that again proves to have a good eye for fine, and above all fresh sounding contemporary electronic music. Noryani’s debut release “Northeast 117” is a tasty and attractive one, displaying a fine assortment of lush, spatial sequences, versatile percussion, powerful…