DEMETRIO CECCHITELLI – JUMP
The Dronarivm label mostly releases its albums on CD, but since 2020 there’s also a sublabel named Le Mont Analogue, especially for cassette releases. The previous (five) releases all got a catalog number from the Dronarivm series (DR-*), but Demetrio Ceccitelli‘s Jump has catalog number LMA-01 – which feels a bit like the ‘official start’ of the sublabel.
As if to celebrate this, there are two versions of the cassette, both limited to 35 copies: the ‘classic’ edition and the ‘deluxe’ edition. Of course, there is also a digital version available.
Cecchitelli has released 22 albums on various labels since 2019; this is his first on Dronarivm/Le Mont Analogue. In ten relatively short pieces (totaling 37 minutes), he shows his versatility in creating ambient/drone pieces. Often (but not always) combined with field recordings, each track has a different atmosphere.
The result is a remarkably adventurous album of ‘curved vibrations, nocturnal environments mixed with contemporary research attitudes within the world of liminal/drone music’.
All in a sound quality that actually deserved a release on CD as well, but oh well – cassettes are nice to collect too.
THE GREEN KINGDOM – HORIZONS
Michigan’s Michael Cottone uses different aliases for his musical output. As The Green Kingdom, he ‘produces minimal ambient music using a variety of digitally-manipulated sounds sourced from a variety of acoustic and electronic instruments’.
The main instrument on Horizons is his guitar, acoustic as well as electric, comfortably embedded in the supporting electronic background. The combination results in a bright and optimistic, summer-like, and possibly ‘green’ sound truly a pleasure to listen to.
Compared to his previous releases (Cottone has been releasing music for some 20 years on many different labels) the music is somewhat less focused on ambient (though it definitely has the atmosphere) and focuses more on rhythm – even if ‘they’re more heartbeats than encouragement to move your body’.
Horizons is a (digital-only) release on The Slow Music Movement, a label that grew from a radio show and ‘recommendation service’ (a description that also fits Ambientblog, by the way). If you consider buying this release, it may help to know that The Slow Music Movement donates a percentage of their revenue to the Client Earth organization.