Release data: Desensitized – Hemispherica Portalis (Portal of 1000 Years) CD/Digital Downbload, Spotted Peccary Music, 2020 It can be an interesting yet refreshing experience when a musician decides to travel a different sonic path than usual. Such is the case for Deborah Martin and Dean De Benedictis who joined their talents as Desensitized, a rather experimental-ish New Age music project.…
Release data: Boreal Taiga – Elementa Soundtrack DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Wayfarer Records, 2020 “Elementa” is New Zealand-based nature photographer and film maker Richard Sidey’s second feature collaboration with ambient composer Boreal Taiga that’s also concluding the director’s Speechless trilogy. The compelling, non-verbal film (released in June 2020) is a black-and-white visual meditation of all that is wild – an escape and…
Release data: Kloob & Onasander – Mundus Patet CD/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Winter-Light, 2020 Fall and winter make most appropriate seasons for deeper listening and travels into dark ambient spaces. Specialized in this EM-genre, Dutch Winter-Light-label brings us “Mundus Patet” (the world is open) named after an esoteric, dark rite exercised by the ancient Romans where the boundaries between the world of…
Release data: Forrest Fang – The Book of Wanderers CD/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Projekt Records, 2020 On all previous albums of Forrest Fang I’ve encountered so far I’ve much enjoyed a rather complex style of music merging elements from Non-Western and Western music elements sophisticatedly. Being confined in his home studio during the Covid lockdown in spring and summer 2020, Forrest felt…
Release data: Johannes Schmoelling & others – 20 CD-EP, Viktoriapark Records, 2020 This is a celebratory release due to the 20th anniversary of Viktoria Park Records founded by Johannes Schmoelling in December 2000. The 30-minute Ep features four previously unreleased tracks where harmonic, melodic lines merge sophistically with delicate yet evocative sequences. There are two compositions Johannes made with his…
Release data: Thom Brennan – Night Lights CD-r/Digital Download, TMB Soundworks, 2020 “Night Light” brings six lengthy tracks where lush swirling soundscapes hover over long strings of smooth pulsating, minimalist sequencer patterns. Brennan’s aural signature is all over the place as is vintage vibe showing up now and then in the imaginary but also sustained dynamic outcome. In a way…
Release data: 猫 シ Corp & telepath – Building a Better World CD/LP/MC, Hiraeth Records, 2019/2020 Jornt Elzinga is a Dutch music producer and owner of Hiraeth Records who’s been making music using the 猫 シ Corp pseudonym (that means something like Cat System Corp). For the beautifully constructed, stellar mastered “Building a better World” (10 tracks, 43:43 minutes) Jornt teamed up…
Release data: TheAdelaidean – Isolation CD/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Projekt Records, 2020 From Down Under comes “Isolation” by successful Aussie writer Sean Williams. The latter uses the moniker TheAdelaidean to explore original and collaborative soundscapes while referring to his output as structured ambient sound. Composed entirely during lockdown, the 62-minute ambient-textural release created out of fragmentatry field recordings is meant to bring…
Release data: Quiet Places – Volume One LP/Digital Download, A Strangely Isolated Place, 2020 Quiet Places is UK’s seasoned electronic music producer trio Dennis White, Charlie May and Dave Gardner (best known as long-time collaborators with Sasha), now focusing on vivid and wide-screen ambient journeys. According the info, the outcome was born out of a whisky-inspired late-night laptop jam session…
Release data: Daniel & Booth – Circle of Phenomenon DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Electronic Composers Outlet, 2020 This is Michael Daniel & Phil Boots’ second album made available on Mai 1st 2020 as a special ECO lockdown/one day only digital preview. “Circle of Phenomenon” features four lengthy tracks clocking between 18 and 20 minutes each. It’s a most enjoyable listen for all…
Release data: Erik Wøllo & Michael Stearns – Convergence CD/Digital Download, Projekt Records, 2020 “Convergence” marks the debut collaboration between Erik Wøllo and Michael Stearns offering a blend of slowly-evolving, contemplative and intimate music reflecting a very visionary and vast aural landscape. The outcome is a perfect blending of technology, music, and emotion utilizing sophisticated electronics, acoustic and original instruments like…
Release data: Under the Dome – Almagest DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Cochlear Vision, 2020 What a surprise to the this recording pop up out of the blue after so many years, as UTD’s last release (“Over the Pond”) came out in 2003. The major part of the 10-track/69-minute release was recorded between April and July 2020 with the exception of a tribute…
Release data: Ran Kirlian – Sidereus Nuncius DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Altera Orbe, 2020 The largest part of “Sidereus Nuncius” (Sidereal Messenger) -named after Galileo Galilei’s famous 1610 astronomical treatise- was created mostly during the Covid19 confinement in spring 2020. It served as an imaginary escape route for the composer to travel light-years away without leaving his home studio. Moreover, it was…
Release data: Echoflex – Echoflex I Digital Download, SeeHear Recordings, 2020 “Echoflex 1” is an ambient recording by Echoflex, aka Plymouth-based composer and visual artist David Muddyman (also a member of the band Loop Guru) who lives close to the sea on the Devon/Cornwall border. He developed an interest in how emotions could be brought into a sound palette by…
Release data: Juta Takahashi – Music for Urban Promenades CD/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Lunisolar Records, 2020 Taking inspiration from a collage of faint bell sounds heard inside an indoor shopping mall in Yokohama, Juta Takahashi decided to undertake his own environmental approach and create this continuous low volume ambience. The outcome, the nearly 63-minute “Music for Urban Promenades”, is a slow evolving…
Release data: Ava Felsenstein – Hydrolux DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Private Release, 2014 Through the years there have been several electronic musicians who make or have made Jarre-inspired music or music recreating his synth sounds and atmospheres such as Kebu, Victor Cerullo and MoonSatellite. German synthesist Ava Felsenstein has the same intention with “Hydrolux”. Well, the eight tracks continuing Jarre’s spherical sounds…
Release data: Havdis – Fugløya CD/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Gterma, 2020 “Fugløya”, Havdis’4th album on Gterma, was actually ready to go to print in early March but due to Covid19 had to sit back and wait a bit just like everyone else. This time around the album comes with some stunning photographs of label owner Johan Rehn complementing the 78-minute narrative ambient…
Release data: Steve Roach – A Soul Ascends CD/Digital Download, Projekt Records, 2020 Meant for deep inward immersion & infinite playback, “A Soul Ascends”(created over seven days in mid-April 2020 during the Covid19 crisis) kinda fits in the same league as Roach”s “Quiet Music” and other tranquil longform soundworks. While submerging in this new slow morphing outcome it becomes clear…
Release data: Eguana – Abyss DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Cosmicleaf Records, 2020 Here’s another fine work of space-ambient bliss by Sergey Severin, aka Eguana, taking its listener into an infinite destiny. “Abyss’” tranquil sonic narrative -that never becomes superficial- unfolds as a weightless drift with sets of gentle oozing textures along a sustained, smooth pulsating sequence. As the journey morphs onward effortlessly…
Release data: Colin Rayment – FRB CD-R/Digital Download, SynGate Records, 2019 For the music on this release, UK-synthesist Colin Rayment was inspired by so called Fast Radio Bursts, unusual repeating signals in the cosmos coming from a source about 1.5 billion light years away. It has led to seven contemporary-melodic mood tracks carrying the composer’s own signature sound aside from…
Release data: Max Corbacho – The Unfolding Dawn CD/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, SilentSun, 2020 The COVID19 confinement period triggered talented Spanish Max Corbacho creating “The Unfolding Dawn”, a continuous longform ambient expanse. The liquid, slowly and always gently transforming spaces encountered here are an in-depth sonic and highly-immersive experience where a kaleidoscope of sedate dynamics is at work while overall tranquillity, gracefulness…
Release data: Airwaves – Multiverse CD/Digital Download, Carpe Sonum, 2020 “Multiverse” is the final recording from the sadly deceased Oscar Menzel his widow discovered on his computer years ago. It is now made available to the public as a limited edition cd and digital download after another meticulous master job by David Morley. “Multiverse” features 52 minutes of music composed…
Release data: Gandalf – Secret Sarai CD/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, BSC/Prudence, 2020 I abandoned Gandalf’s music many years back as I found out over and over again the intriguing magical scent gracing his early work was no longer present: it had become too sweet and New Age instead. This time around multi-instrumentalist Heinz Strobl is joined by Theologos Michellis (Violin), Nicky Eggl …
Release data: Forrest Fang – Ancient Machines CD/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Projekt Records, 2019 Every recording by multi-instrumentalist and sound creator Forrest Fang I’ve listened to has been an enchanting, mystifying and intriguing experience. In the creative process of molding and shaping “Ancient Machines”, the composer acknowledged the early sounds and influences of minimalists Steve Reich, Philip Glass, and Terry Riley. Furthermore,…
Release data: Janne Hanhisuanto – Ambient Collection 2020 Digital Download, Private Release, 2020 This release features 10 remastered ambient tracks taken from previous released albums created between 2007 and 2019. Some of these albums are hard to find nowadays. One of the pieces (“Warm Memory”) is previously unreleased while four tracks were taken from the 2012-recording “Quiet Places”, an album…
Release data: Gáston Arévalo – Terrain LP/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, A Strangely Isolated Place, 2020 Seven years after “Rollin Ballads” Uruguayan sound artist and musician Gastón Arévalo returns with “Terrain”, an exploratory-themed ambient album told and unfolding through the lens of an expedition diary – a rich, intimate and most calming cinematic atmosphere set amongst the beauty of nature. The one-hour/12-track textural…
Release data: Madis – Sea of Tranquillity CD/LP/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Seabound Music, 2020 Here’s a nice catch for fans of synth-pop related and rather infectious-melodic electronics composed by Polish musician/producer Amadeusz Malkowskraka Madis, aka Madis. The latter launched his debut mini-album “Ocean Rain” in 2013 followed by his own remix of “Interstellar’s” main theme in 2015, various other remixes and singles,…
Release data: Brian Eno – Ambient #1: Music for Airports CD, Editions EG, 1978 “Ambient 1: Music For Airports” (conceived by Eno as an atmosphere, or a surrounding influence: a tint) broke new ground when it came out as it introduced the new term “ambient” to the musical lexicon, its modus operandi formalising the use of steady states as the…
Release data: Liquid Mind – XIII: Mindfulness CD/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Real Music, 2020 Well, here’s an electronic recording heading up the New Age avenue. Liquid Mind, aka US-composer Chuck Wild, started in January of 1988 during a time of personal crisis to help heal from anxiety and panic disorder. Since then, music has been an important part of Mr Wild’s own…
Release data: Zanov – Chaos Islands CD/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Private Release, 2020 Zanov’s sixth album “Chaos Islands” takes inspiration by the chaos theory and contains seven electronic vignettes blending the simple and complex while the listener can expect the unexpected. Still rooted firmly in characteristic Zanov’s edged sound design, the sequence-driven, symphonic-angled, partly melodic outcome features various most peculiar twists and…
Release data: Spacecraft – Excursion DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Private Release, 2020 This is not a recording by USA’s Tony Gerber & co but a solo music project by the same name of Bombay-based musician Rishi Bhatia. “Excursion” -the follow-up of 2019’s “Mars”- is a 22-minute/4-track EP is a treat for fans of lush soundscape music as it takes the listener into…
Release data: Lauri Lest – Duality DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Private Release, 2020 “Duality” -an ode to introspection in the age of machines, devices and constant strive for progress and success- is the hypnotic-ish, rather spacey and often beat-less debut recording by Estonian electronic musician Lauri Lest. In the process of creating the 6-track, pure-synth music the composer’s aim was to focus…
Release data: Hyonodial – Good Times End Times DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Private Release, 2020 Hypnodial is an ambient chill-out project by Spanish musician Ilia Rodríguez who released his debut “Aether Alcoves” in 2017, followed by the Ep “Sub” in 2019. The outcome of “Good Times End Times” (according the composer conceptually moving into more abstract, stream-of-consciousness terrain) consists of 7 tracks/45…
Release data: Skoulaman – Deepminds DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Private Release, 2020 “Deepminds” offers a nice set of music consisting of four compositions Hans van Kroonenburg published previously on YouTube as well as three new pieces: “Polymood”, “Mytilini Intermission” and the title track. The latter were created with (and inspired by) a couple of second hand instruments Hans got his hands on…
Release data: Brian Eno – Ambient #4: On Land CD, EG Records, 1982 As a big fan of ambient music for many years, I wondered how I could forget giving some attention to Brian Eno, one of the godfathers of ambient electronic music. In the years preceding “On Land” the idea of making music that in some way related to…
Release data: Germind – Flows Digital Download, Synphaera Records, 2017 “Flows” is the debut release of Russian composer Mihail Glukhov, aka Germind, an ambient recording taking the listener on a 66-minite ride to the farthest reaches of the universe. The gentle morphing celestial courier features 8-track minimal, enveloping soundscape arrangements of a drony, darker nature. It recalls the impressionist realm…
Release data: Dave Bessell – Reality Engine CD/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, DiN, 2020 The surreal, gothic and cinematic form the main thread on Mr Bessell’s “Reality Engine”, his second solo album on DiN. This time around the UK-composer indulged his passion for literature in compositions inspired by the writings of Jorge Luis Borges, the Brothers Grimm and Lord Dunsany. Still applying analogue…
Release data: Loneward – Moongate CD-R/Digital Download, Private Release, 2020 As Loneward, Canadian synthesist Mike Carss started a new sonic journey in 2018 into what he referred to as purer ambient. “Moongate”, where processed guitar (both electric and acoustic) and soft synths taking centre stage, is a drifting, slightly pastoral-oriented affair of slow moving textures that come and go. It’s…
Release data: Robert Schroeder – C’est Magique CD/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Spheric Music, 2020 I confess I somewhat gave up on on Mr Schroeder after the uninspired outcome of his previous two releases. Well, on his 2020-release “C’est magique” -a sound excursion into the depths of magic- the Aachen-based composer turns up the ambient chill-out avenue. Despite my low expectations Robert seems…
Release data: Simon Lomax – We Echo Endlessly DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Council of Nine, 2020 In November 2015, UK soundscapist Simon Lomax crossed the big pond for the first time for playing a live-set at Chuck van Zyl’s Star’s End Radio show, an experience he repeated in November 2019. The set played during the latter is now made available as “We…
Release data: Bertrand Loreau – Eternal Sorrows CD/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Spheric Music, 2019 The music on this 71-minute recording was made in 1981, a time when only limited analogue equipment along simple recording facilities were around and affordable for many electronic musicians. “Eternal Sorrows” offers 14 vintage pieces enhanced slightly and improved best as possible in 2015 without losing its original…
Release data: Maria Warner – Slipstream CD-r/Digital Download, Neu Harmony, 2019 No other than accomplished British synthesist Michael Neil -residing in Berlin since several years- is the musician behind the Maria Warner project. Inspired by his connection to the Berlin School scene both physically and spiritually, Michael tries to emulate the kind of electronic music that inspired him to work…
Release data: Wanderwelle – A State of Decrepitude LP/Digital Download, A Strangely Isolated Place, 2020 Meant as a soundtrack to humanity that once was, “A State Of Decrepitude” is a concept album by Amsterdam-based duo Phil van Dulm and Alexander Bartels (aka Wanderwelle). Moreover it deals with the many faces of deterioration, the various aspects of impermanence and facets of…
Release data: Alio Die & Parallel Worlds – The Utopian Blossom CD/Digital Download, Hic Sunt Leones, 2020 About six years after their previous recording the collaboration between the musical talents Alio Die (aka Italian soundsculptor Stefano Musso) and Parallel Worlds (aka Greek synthesist Bakis Sirros) has become a true ambient effort with a strong minimalist signature. Assembled from various smooth…
Release data: Three-Six (36) – Music for Isolation Digital Download, Private Release, 2020 The power and value of music seems even more important in these hard times as the world’s population suffers heavily from the corona crisis. Secluded in his home ambient composer Dennis Huddleston brings us the free-of-charge “Music for Isolation” for which he used a very minimal setup…
Release data: Chuck Van Zyl – Spacetones CD/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Groove Unlimited, 2019 Well, I guess the review of this one comes quite a bit later than I anticipated as I bought at the E-Live 2019 event where it was released. “Spacetones” presents Chuck’s full concert of minimalist Berlin-School inspired synth & sequencer improvisations performed at “E-Day 2018”. Its three lengthy…
Release data: Merrin Karras – Northwest Passage LP/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, A Strangely Isolated Place, 2020 What I got here is the second album of Irish electronic music producer Brendan Gregoriy, also known under the moniker Chymera. As the latter Brendan produced progressive electronic dance music whereas his project Merrin Karras heads firmly into the territory of widescreen synthscape ambient. That sonic…
Release data: Nam-Khar – Sur Chöd CD, Winter-Light, 2020 Those who like to immerse in abyssal, long-form and ritualist-dark ambient soundscapes are at the right spot with the full-length “Sur Chöd”, an album following in the footsteps of the 2018-release “Secret Essence / Sangwa Dupa”, also released on Dutch Winter-Light. Using traditional ethno-acoustic instrumentation paired with isolationist, coldish electronic textures,…
Release data: Amongst Myselves – The Good Earth CD-r/DVD-r/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Private Release, 2020 “The Good Earth” is the first album by Australian synthesist Steve Roberts (aka Amongst Myselves) made since he moved away from his suburban house near Adelaide to a large property on the Fleurieu Peninsula, a place Steve considers almost his spiritual centre for a long time. It…
Release data: Nevel – The Hageland CD/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Wool-E Discs, 2019 I ran into this remarkable release on the Belgium Db2Fluctuation EM-event in February 2020. The concept-album The Hageland, a double cd limited to 300 physical copies, is the debut of Belgium DJ and producer Bart Van Meulebroeck aka Nevel. It’s named after a region of the same name situated between the Belgian…
Release data: Nothing But Noise – Mutanten Maschine CD/USB-Stick/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, DB2fluctuation, 2018 This release saw the light of day previously on cassette-tape and on self-released USB-stick before it landed on silver disc, the latter containing one bonus piece. Stark, progressive and deep vibrating electronics remain on the menu on “Mutanten Maschine” along controlled industrial touches flashing by in the darker-shaded,…
Release data: Stefan Erbe & Steve Baltes – A-11 CD/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Erbe Music, 2019 Here’s another electronic album inspired by the 50th anniversary of the first moon landing. The music on “A-11”, the third full-length collaboration of these skilled German synthesists, is comprised of material performed at Observatory Hagen and ATT–Essen. I’m not familiar with the music played live on…
Release data: Neraterrae – Scenes from the Sublime CD/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Cyclic Law/Liberation through Hearing, 2020 On the 62-minute “Scenes from the Sublime”, Alessio Antoni (aka Neraterrae) continues his journey into haunting worlds of vast, ominous dronescapes. Coined as an ode to beauty, the unfathomable and the minds capability of channeling the sublime, inspiration came from various art works. Each of…
Release data: Roger Eno and Brian Eno – Mixing C0lours CD/LP/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Deutsche Grammophone, 2020 Roger and Brian Eno’s collaborative debut-release “Mixing Colours” (created out of a back-and-forth process between the two brothers over a 15-year period) is an exploration into sound through pastel-coloured impressionistic, contemplative soundscapes. All but one of the recording’s eighteen soft resonating tracks take their titles…
Release data: Yagya – Old Dreams and Memories CD/LP/Digital Download, Small Plastic Animals, 2020 This album sees Reykjavik-based composer Aðalsteinn Guðmundsson redefining his own sound, continuing his quest in exploring new sonic pathways that he already started on his previous effort “Stormur”. Subtle moving away from the icy dub techno sound, “Old Dreams and memories” follows the road taken on “Stars…
Release data: Thom Brennan – Departures CD-r/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, TMB Soundworks, 2020 Often, life events are a source of inspiration for music releases. “Departures” was actually not planned and came about as a diversion from another project due to recent events in Mr Brennan’s personal life … it’s about loss. Thom elaborates: our lives are spent accruing friends, relationships and material things…
Release data: DreamerProject – Beyond Dreams CD-R/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, AD Music, 2019 What I got here is a compilation release, the story so far, of DreamerProject, aka Norwegian musician Kjetil Ingenbrigtsen. The 72-minute “Beyond Dreams” contains 13 tracks in remastered or remixed form as well as three exclusive new tracks I’d classify as warm, feel-good, easy-going and highly accessible electronic chill-out.…
Release data: Paul Ward – For a Knave CD, Surreal to Real, 1991 Paul Ward’s debut album “For a Knave” saw the light of day on John Dyson’s Surreal to Real label in the begin of the ‘90’s. Before Ward went solo he was one half of the project Quiet Point that broke up shortly after having performed at the…
Release data: Nothing But Noise – Berlin to Brussel CD/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, DB2fluctuation, 2019 On the 3-track/43-minute “Berlin To Brussel” Dirk Bergen and Daniel Bressanutti offer their listeners Berlin School-inspired electronics spiced with a few quirky hooks and slight experimental twists. The darker-infused soundscape passages on the 20-minute “Berlin” and 17-minute “Brussel” both feature a psychedelic, astral feel next to deep…
Release data: Phobos – A Visual Presence CD-r/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Private Release, 2020 The 77-minute “A Visual Presence” -which comes with some great imaginative cover-art- documents David’s fourth concert performed at 2019’s UK’s Awakenings concert series, for the composer turning out to be the most enjoyable to that date. Usually when Mr Thompson performs live he plays completely new music, however…