Release data: F.D.Project – Distance CD/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Groove Unlimited, 2022 There’s not much to say about the fine batch of contemporary electronic music making up this release. The rhythmic-driven, not-too-busy-sounding “Distance” continues in the footsteps of its predecessors, blending well-tempered as well as sparkling sequences with warm synth pads and Frank’s e-guitar soloing. At the same time I can’t deny…
Release data: Patrick Kosmos – The Visitor 1988 CD/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Groove Unlimited, 1988/2022 During his career, Belgian synthesist Patrick ‘Wille De Wael’ Kosmos did a lot of quite memorable, visually attractive live concerts. Some of them were recorded and made it onto cassette in the early days. Patrick had the firm belief that the synthesizer was made for the sake…
Ian Boddy – Axiom CD/Lp/Digital Download, DiN, 2020 When darker, colder days are upon us, I always sense a great need to listen and immerse in melancholic, more profound electronic music. Mr. Boddy’s 2020 release “Axiom”, which I listened to through headphones, proved to fit in there perfectly. With a playing time of just over 41 minutes, the vintage, smoothly…
Release data: Rolf Trostel – Narrow Gate to Life CD/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Musique Intemporelle/MiG, 1995/2022 In spring 2022 I suggested the German MIG label consider re-releasing “Narrow Gate to Life”, the classic fourth album by Berlin-based electronic musician Rolf Trostel. As they hadn’t heard of him nor weren´t able to track him down, I helped them make contact with him with…
Release data: Wolfgang Düren – Eyeless Dreams Lp/CD, WPL Records/MIG, 1980/2022 Most people might know Wolfgang Düren as the chairman of Waldorf Music. Before founding that company he collaborated with Wolfgang Palm (the man behind PPG) and distributed his synths in the late seventies till the fall of PPG in the mid-’80s. At the end of the ‘70-s Mr. Düren…
Release data: Rüdiger Gleisberg & Mathias Grassow – The Seer CD/Digital Download, Gterma, 2022 Next to being good friends, German musicians, Rüdiger Gleisberg & Mathias Grassow have pursued their own solo projects as well as collaborated in various constellations, such as Karmacosmic and Nostalgia just to name a few. So it’s no surprise Mathias and Rüdiger are almost constantly…
Release data: Axess – Chamaeleon CD, Invisible Shadows, 2003 When it comes to quality German electronic music, bands like Rainbow Serpent and Pyramid Peak come to mind. One of the members of the latter is Axel Stüpplich, who kicked off his solo adventure as Axess in 2002. “Chamaeleon”, his second release under that moniker, offers thoughtful-made, accessible and rhythmic-driven…
Release data: Various Artists – Bhogavati CD/Digital Download, Gterma, 2022 This beautifully rendered concept release – marked as an ambient nocturnal abyssal tapestry – is built up in-house to tell a story from the label’s own mythos and features specially commissioned art that the label owner has been sitting on for a while (a theme he hopes to expand…
Release data: Frank Klare – Solodreams CD-r/Digital Download, Syngate, 1986/2012 Here’s a nice (re)discovery coming from the German Syngate label offering the EM-audience a full album of cosmic electronics in vintage, end of the ’70s Schulze-style. Pete Farn gave his very best in the remastering process of the original tape while maintaining its warmth, feel, and identity. Based on…
Release data: Venja – Unfolded CD/Digital Download, Art for Ears, 2021 One of the things I appreciate most about Johan Geens´ music is the range of intrinsic emotions he´s able to convey through his works. At first glance, he doesn`t do anything less on this album, but overall it turned out more superficial than I anticipated. The opener “A…
Release data: Basic Principles – Colours CD/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Deserted Island Music, 2022 Well, I bought this very moody double album at E-Day 2022 from the artist himself at the label’s booth, but unfortunately, it had to wait until recently before I found time to dig it properly. Listening attentively to it now, I can say the music of Haarlem-based musician/painter Wladimir…
Release data: Bruno Sanfilippo – Redes CD/Digital Download, AD21 Music, 2022 When it comes to emotive music, the works of Bruno Sanfilippo always had a special charm for me. Instead of previous piano-led compositions, things now settle around sophisticated synth sounds, processed female vocal pads, and (string)textures making up the 48-minute “Redes”, a concept album addressing the extensive way we…
Release data: Javi Cánovas – Slow Light CD-r/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Neu Harmony, 2020 In the last few years, it´s become clear this Spanish synthesist has been struggling in various ways, one of them will be the lack of recognition as well as sales of his music. Besides that, it doesn’t help either in my opinion when his music is released in a…
Release data: ASC & Inhmost – The Moons of Saturn CD/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Auxiliary, 2021 As a fan of free-form deep space music, I already explored quite some releases by ASC, but it appeared this guy also did some collaborations, “The Moons of Saturn” being one of them. That album is the second one done between James Clements and Simon Huxtable (aka…
Release data: Cosmic Ground – Isolate CD/LP/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Tonzonen Records, 2022 It`s not hard to imagine the album´s music and its title may have a connection to the human condition during the extended period of Covid that hit the globe severely for over 2 years. Mysterious and haunting semblances surface on and off in the dark, at times drony-oriented pure vintage…
Release data: Frank Beissel & Steve Roach – Nautical Twilight CD/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Soundquest Music, 2022 “Nautical Twilight” is the debut release of Steve Roach and New Mexico-based synthesist Frank Beissel, a highly in-depth atmospheric ambient journey into immersive soundscapes. From the promotional blurb, I learned most of the 71-minute outcome came to fruition during real-time sessions at Mr. Beissel’s studio…
Release data: Parallel Worlds – Dark Energy CD-r/12″/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Moatun 7, 2022 Bakis Sirros’ “Dark Energy” contains five 10-minute atmospheric ambiences, as usual, created through his analogue modulars along digital FM and virtual analogue synths sampling. Drony, minimalist textural landscapes of an exploring, quite adventurous nature are mapped out here creating evocative waves of bliss. The CD-R and download edition…
Release data: [‘ramp] – happy days are here to stay CD/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Doombient, 2022 Since I came to know his intriguing music I dare say Stephen Parsick has a sarcastic view on the world as well as mankind, something he on and off expressed through his Doombient music art. The first glimpses of an upcoming new cold war as well…
Release data: Terminus Void – Interstellar CD-r/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Private Release, 2021 Terminus Void´s impressive “Origins Unknown” prompted me to investigate his debut “Interstellar”, a recording released during the Covid pandemic. From the first notes, it’s clear this emotionally charged album is another winner and therefore wholeheartedly recommended to any deep space music aficionado. Smooth textures and melancholic CS-80 pads on…
Release data: BySenses – MonoCHROOM CD/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Private Release, 2021 “MonoCHROOM” is the fifth release by Didier DeWachtere who’s artistically known by his nom-de-plum BySenses. The recording features two long-form tracks of 30 minutes each that both reveal a progressive approach toward electronic music. Don’t be put off by the harsh industrial beats that take off at the start of “Monos”,…
Release data: Jonn Serrie – Starmoods Mc, Future Music, 1984 Let´s turn the wheel of time and join me on a trip back to 1984. That year would see the cassette release of “Starmoods”, the debut of one of the finest electronic space music composers around who started out exploring Lightship adventures with musical outcomes from there on. In my search…
Release data: Deepspace – Deep Blue Universe DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Private Release, 2019 The ambient spaces explored by Brisbane-based composer Mirko Ruckels have the ability to resonate in the air long after the music has faded away, at least for me. The drifting textural planes making up the nine compositions on his 11th release “Deep Blue Universe” seem to increase the immersive,…
Release data: Perge – Mutually Assured Destruction CD/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Private Release, 2022 What a great title for an album mirroring the state of the world, one of constant turmoil! As Perge (aka Matthew Stringer & Graham Getty) initially started out to create electronic rock in the classic 70s/80s TD-style live bootleg concerts after the Tangerine Tree project was cancelled, Matthew Stringer…
Release data: Loneward – Our Unyielding Sky CD-r/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Private Release, 2022 Many composers in the Em-genre, e.g. Mychael Danna, Peter Challoner, Erik Wollo, and Thom Brennan just to name a few, have been fascinated and inspired by the sky above us. The ambient journey making up Mike Carss’s “Our Unyielding Sky” -who considers the sky as our window to the…
Release data: Brendan Pollard – Phrases and Protocols CD/Digital Download, Acoustic Wave Records, 2021 The 63-minute “Phrases and Protocols” –still recorded through a primordial recording process- is (another) celebration of old-school electronics hailing back to Tangerine Dream’s music in the early and mid-’70s. The warm sounds and sequencers of various modular synths are all over the place as are the…
Release data: Max Corbacho – Equinox CD/Digital Download, Silentsun, 2022 A most gracious, gentle evolving sound world of repose and contemplation lies at the core of “Equinox”, a 74-minute textural extravaganza by Spanish ambient master Max Corbacho. Max already announced the recording at the end of May 2022 as a sound distillation from an idea created in 2019 that had…
Release data: Erik Wøllo – Inversions EP, DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Projekt Records, 2022 For me, Norwegian multi-instrumental artist Erik Wøllo belongs to the league of artists making it hard to keep up with the high speed of releases. “Inversions” was fully recorded in Mr. Wøllo’s house in his kitchen as well as his living room. To create the outcome, Erik used…
Release data: Ombient / Chuck van Zyl – Space Patrol CD-r, Synkronos Music, 2015 What I got here is a collaborative release between Mike Hunter (aka Ombient) and renowned synthesist & Stars End radio host Chuck van Zyl, both hailing from Philadelphia’s Em scene. The outcome of the three cosmic-angled long tracks –all performed live in concert in 2013- fits…
Release data: Robert Schroeder – Spaces of a Dream CD/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Spheric Music, 2022 The sound of Robert’s previous album already showed a return to his early output, and this also applies to “Spaces of a Dream” in a certain way. Most of all it’s a contemporary release on which modern techniques are used throughout, but it’s nice to hear various…
Release data: Venja – Galactic Underground Volume 3: Music for Astronauts CD/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Art for Ears, 2021 For the third volume of the series, Johan Geens invited fellow countryman Rhea (aka Mark De Wit) and German synthesist Michael Brückner to join him on his sonic journey. Well, it’s another well-crafted, highly emotive space, sojourner, starting out in a dark, deep atmospheric…
Release data: Peter Mergener – Robotic Instinct CD-r/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Cue Records, 2016 I must say I was quite annoyed when I found out this album by established German synthesist Peter Mergener was released in physical form as a CD-R and not as a factory-pressed disc as should have been. The 53-minute “Robotic Instinct” sees Peter return to the fine style executed…
Release data: Irezumi – Forest Digital Download, Private Release, 2022 Some six years after “Thirty”, French artist Manuel Mesdag brings his audience a full body of work with “Forest”. It’s a one-hour enchanting, warm, and most moody ambient release, an aural world at ease featuring various field recordings, bits of subtle sequencing, organic sounds, and some occasional rhythmic structures.…
Release data: Loneward – Fractional Dimensions Volume. 1 CD-r/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Private Release, 2022 Creating proper long-form music demands patience, attention, and talent. Under the Altus-moniker, Mike Carss already delivered some fine stuff such as the “Sleep Theory”- trilogy. Now he kicks off something similar -ambient music in its purest form- using the Loneward-moniker with “Fractional Dimensions”. It’s the first in…
Release data: Terminus Void – Origins Unknown CD-r/Digital Download, Private Release, 2022 Although I’ve been writing and reviewing music for an extended period I still experience a thrill when discovering great new talent in the space music domain. Terminus Void is an ambient-space music project by Seattle-based Em-composer J. Ronald Smith whose debut recording “Interstellar” (where he used the CS-80…
Release data: F.D. Project – Color of Life CD/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Groove Unlimited, 2022 The music featured on the 9- track “Color of Life” sees a continuation of Frank Dorittke’s contemporary, highly melodic style. Some pieces are rhythmic-driven, slightly rock-oriented, or pure electronic while others (like “Blue”) turn out most relaxed. This apart from a few pieces that contain Frank’s characteristic,…
Release data: Paul Ellis & Jared White – Unbroken Promise CD/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Groove Unlimited, 2022 “Unbroken Spirit” was meant to be created in the flesh and live in the moment but due to the unfortunate strike of Covid19 things had to be rescheduled between the two musicians with most of the work achieved remotely. I’d say those looking for some peppy,…
Release data: Brendan Pollard – Cycles and Pulses CD/Digital Download, Acoustic Wave Records, 2022 Since the Covid lockdown kicked in in Spring 2020, UK synthesist Brendan Pollard intensified his musical activities in his home garage, changing and re-arranging his set-up while treating the world on YouTube with improvised sessions. The 5-track outcome on this album was realized between January and…
Release data: Sensory++ – Exoversum CD/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Art for Ears, 2020 I too often forget some noteworthy electronic music is also produced by my Southern neighbours in Belgium, many of them joining and/or supporting the B-Wave collective. The music-making up the concept album “Exoversum” (that actually celebrates the 10-year existence of Mr. Egelies’ album “Boundaries of Infinity”) takes the listener…
Release data: Skoulaman – Mundus in Motu CD/Digital Download, Groove Unlimited, 2022 Dutch synthesist Hans van Kroonenburg keeps surprising me with how thoughtfully made his Berlin School-infused music is and the 74-minute “Mundus in Moto” is no exception. The highly emotive yet sensitive moods already fly high on opener “If I could speak to my father again” (which was played…
Release data: Chuck Van Zyl – Votive CD/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Synkronos Music, 2021 The love for sound creation in the analogue domain has been (and continues to be) the heart and soul of Chuck van Zyl’s music. “Votive” features three 20-minute tracks with an array of elements of old Berlin school cosmic music. In this aural world, varied, nicely-paced sequencer patterns…
Release data: Jos D’Almeida – Continent 7 CD/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, caPE Recordings, 2022 The music this Mr. D’ Almeida’s fourth album “Continent 7” was created and finalized during the Covid pandemic but its actual release date was postponed until Spring 2022 when the world slowly started to open up again. This time around, the composer attempted a little more progressive approach,…
Release data: Robert Rich – Neurogenesis CD/LP/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Soundscape Productions, 2020 Initial work on “Neurogenesis” -inspired by a complex, mathematically-tinged lucid dream Mr. Rich had in March of 2019- took off in the summer of 2019, but then took a hiatus when the Covid lockdown kicked in in March 2020. This was also the period when some long-time listeners of…
Release data: Venja – Galactic Underground CD/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Wool-E Discs, 2017 Having heard “Galactic Underground Volume 2” made me decide to investigate G.U.’s first chapter. This 70-minute journey through time and space features a similar structure, the majority of the 10 tracks being solo pieces by Johan Geens. The latter delivers some excellent grand expanses, soft swelling textural drones, and deep…
Release data: Johan Tronestam – Androids CD/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Groove Unlimited, 2022 In the last few years, I haven’t been able to keep up with the speed of the new releases of the talented Mr. Tronestam, who now has found a well-deserved new home at Groove Unlimited. The concept album “Androids” is a musical interpretation about and inspired by a future…
Release data: Sequentia Legenda – Resonances CD/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Private Release, 2022 With “Resonance”, French synthesist Laurent Schiebert takes his listeners back into the cosmic realms of Berlin School music transported in the here and now with three long tracks. In his words, he’s now “ascending towards even brighter energies and ever more spiritual vibrations”. To me, it seems the composer…
Release data: Boreal Taiga – Nunavet (Arctic Drone Sessions) DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Wayfarer Records, 2021 Historically curious and immense, the arctic and subarctic areas have been a huge interest for sound artist Boreal Taiga’s for many years already. “Nunavut” was inspired by talks the composer had with some friends working at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Pasadena. They told him…
Release data: Daniel & Booth – Inverse CD/Digital Download, Electronic Composers Outlet, 2020 When it comes to a reinterpretation and keen reshuffle of the Berlin School style, English musicians Michael Daniel and Phil Booth have done a fine job so far since they started out together in 2008. “Inverse”, containing four lengthy tracks without any soloing, is another attentively crafted…
Release data: Kebu – Urban Dreams CD/LP/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Zyx Music, 2021 There’s no doubt Kebu (aka Finnish synthesist Sebastian Teir) is a busy guy since he kicked off his sonic journey about a decade ago. “Urban Dreams” is Sebastian’s third full-length effort on which this skilled musician still uses (an assortment of) analog equipment only resulting in lots of warm,…
Release data: Altus – Anthopoaliena CD-r/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Private Release, 2022 Here’s the first Altus release since composer Mike Carss decided to quit his job and dedicate all his time and effort on his music projects. “Anthropoaliena”, referred to as a sequel to the 2018 album “Pioneer” of a planned trilogy, continues Altus’ journey into the immense cosmic outdoors where the outcome…
Release data: Meg Bowles – Pilgrimage CD/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Kumatone Records, 2022 You’re at the right spot with the releases of Meg Bowles when it comes to profound emotional ambient(space) music with lots of intrinsic elegance merged with a meditative touch. “Pilgrimage”, released some four years after the beautiful “Evensong”, is another nicely crafted recording graced with warm, smooth resonating synths…
Release data: Chuck Van Zyl – The XYL File CD/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Industry8, 2016 Let’s focus on some old School-based electronic music from the US created in the mid ’80s that now sees a re-release. Marking the 25th anniversary of its first release in 1991 on an audio cassette by Peter Gulch’s Synkronos Music label, this limited edition cd release contains…
Release data: Harvey Summers – Moon CD/Digital Download, MIG, 2022 Here’s a captivating release by an artist who used the lengthy Covid lockdown period to set up another studio in his home. It would become the birthplace for a cinematic, orchestral, and narrative opus inspired by a lifelong interest in space and the series of moon landings. To achieve the…
Release data: Kurtz Mindfields – Flying from Berlin to Paris LP/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, FeverDog Music, 2022 The EM community was offered another view and approach to classic Berlin School-style electronics since Frenchman Jean-Luc Briançon started releasing his music as Kurtz Mindfields. He proved to be a most skilled synthesist who also connected as well as collaborated with a lot of…
Release data: Wolfgang Bock – Cycles LP/CD, Telefunken/MIG, 1980/2022 It must be at least 15 years ago when I started my own -quite lengthy search- for the master tapes of “Cycles”, leading to the disappointing outcome they could not be tracked down in the music vaults of Universal Music in two different countries. Fast forward to the end of March…
Release data: David Helpling – IN CD/LP/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Spotted Peccary Music, 2022 “IN” is an epic release by David Helpling composed over a ten-year period. Its music is celebrating (and is inspired by) the vastness of and the wonder found in small spaces, simple and intricate as well as expansive and intimate. Two vocalists along with a cello player and…
Release data: Deepspace – Superradiance DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Projekt Records, 2022 The music of Mirko Ruckels, aka Deepspace, has always been a fine vehicle to detach from worldly affairs. Now there’s “Superradiance”, out as a download on the established Projekt Records label, where the composer takes the next step by taking his listeners into the deep end and far off…
Release data: Jeff Greinke – Noctilucent DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Spotted Peccary Music, 2022 Jeff Greinke’s 58-minute ambient sojourn “Noctilucent” (named after a rare type of cloud phenomena called night-shining clouds) is an alchemy of thought-provoking, visceral night music featuring nine transformative tracks riding the edge between tranquility and slight menace. Vibes of unease already shimmer clearly through the aural leaves of…
Release data: Brian Vassallo – Scenes Vol. 1 DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Private Release, 2021 Malta-based composer Brian Vassallo started releasing music in 1998, since then putting outing out more music on a regular basis. The 44-minute “Scenes Vol. 1” compiles 13 single tracks composed in recent years, kicking off with the epic 8-minute “Columbus” (which dates from March 2019). The…
Release data: Forrest Fang – Forever Cascades CD/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Projekt Records, 2021 For “Forever Cascades”, multi-instrumentalist Forrest Fang created ten rhythmic-driven, minimalist aural surroundings with an Oriental edge, blending synthetic textures with world instruments such as violin, gamelan, dulcimer, and the clavinet as well as assorted acoustic and metal percussion. The core inspiration came through walks near the San Francisco Bay…
Release data: Robert Marselje – 5 CD-r/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Groove Unlimited, 2021 I never cared much for the general melodic music Dutch synthesist Robert Marselje released, until now. The sonic content of his 78-minute album “5” is the counterpoint of his previous work, featuring five tracks with calm, imaginary as well as darker-shaded, rather mysterious-angled soundscapes of a freeform nature…