In the Shortlist sections, I will mention some of the albums that I enjoyed listening to, but couldn’t find the time (or the right words) for a “full” review for. Still, I think they deserve your attention: use the links to find more info and hear previews.
Good Weather for an Airstrike – Underneath the Stars
Tom Honey (Hampshire, UK) originally set up Good Weather for an Airstrike to create deliberately soothing music to help ease the tinnitus problems he suffers from. His main influences are artists like Sigur Ros, Eluvium, Hammock and Stars of the Lid. “Underneath the Stars” melds “dreamy strings with hints of fragmented guitar tone, soft drones and a set of subtle field recordings.”
Seconds Before Awakening – Nine
As Seconds Before Awakening, Michael S. Walley creates a “soundtrack for dreams and dreamers alike”. “Nine” – the 10th album in the series that started counting from Zero – is a 59 minutes long, slowly evolving deep drone. “I almost feel like this is the sound of nebulae and galaxies frozen for us to contemplate the shifting energy and interplay between matter and nothingness. These sounds remind me that infinity is real, here and now.”
[Free Download]
Aspectee – Jour Cinq
Aspectee (Michael Frenkel from Germany) presents “a massive droning creation, dark and intense while transparent and organic at the same time. Over one hour of pure drone hypnotizing experience. “
Ryonkt – Troposphere
Uncompromising and (almost) static guitar-drones created by Ryo Nakata a.k.a. Ryonkt. Sustained string chords, barely recognisable as processed guitar, the beauty of which will only reveal itself to those susceptible to it. “The word troposphere derives from the Greek: tropos for “turning” or “mixing,” reflecting the fact that turbulent mixing plays an important role in the troposphere’s structure and behavior.” (wikipedia.org)
Fog Lake – Stay Lost
Debut release by 18 year old Aaron Powell from Newfoundland, Canada, sounding remarkably mature. A ‘song diary’ collection of ambient instrumentals, created through the use of samples, VST synths and reverb-heavy guitars. “Love, hope and nostalgia…forever.”