The Volume Settings Folder – Ivan Hoe and Other Tales


Ivan Hoe

From the very first minutes of “Ivan Hoe and Other Tales“, you will realise that this is not gonna be like one of your average atmospheric drone albums.

Starting with a spoken voice recording, taken “from old tape cassettes for English summer homeworks” and telling tales about the ancient Saxons from Sherwood Forest, the album shifts into “a journey into an almost cold, dark and ‘aseptic’ forest, ending with a come-back to a warm home”.

Banabila & Machinefabriek


banabila+machinefabriek

First: check my last.fm profile so you know that I’m not entirely ‘unbiased’ when reviewing this release. 

Michel Banabila and Machinefabriek are firmly at the top of my all-time favourite artists chart (well, to be exact: counting of ‘all-time’ started at 2005 when I “went digital” in listening music). 

Both have been extensively featured on this weblog (just do a search on their names to dig deeper) – even if that covers only a small part of their output.
Considering their complete discography, it seems their output is quite different in style – yet their work also has some overlapping areas, especially when it comes to “gritty” electronics. 

Knowing they both live in Rotterdam, it was clear that they should meet sometimes. I’ve been waiting for that to happen, but I had no idea if their collaboration would work and what the result might sound like. 

So imagine my surprise when, without any introduction or announcement, their collaborative album “Banabila & Machinefabriek”  was announced recently.

Eivind Aarset – Dream Logic

Norwegian guitarist Eivind Aarset will probably be known by many of you, just for his contributions to the music of artists like Nils Petter Molvaer, Arve Henriksen, David Sylvian.

When reading about his new solo album, the combination of some details made it clear to me that this was a release to look forward to:  

First: it is released on the ECM-label.
Second: it is co-produced and co-composed by Jan Bang.  
Third: it’s title is “Dream Logic” …

Roach+Serries, L. Nerell, M. Jakobsons, G. Bojanek, F. D’Eybastens

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.

Low Volume Music

STEVE ROACH & DIRK SERRIES – LOW VOLUME MUSIC
These two Grandmasters of Ambient music join forces again to create this “introspective musical palette solely dedicated to harmony, integrity and pure beauty.”
“In a world where the noise level of daily life has increased to a fever pitch, this release offers an essential sonic respite from the external distractions. These five delicate sound meditations are built upon a perfect blend of deep ambient characteristics: looping and lush textures and harmonics mixed with subtle, hovering, lattice-like forms. The tracks follow a zen-like flow, bringing the listener’s attention down to a distinct stillness, a single point; gently shifting, sparkling mirror pools of sound are revealed as meditations to reflect upon.”

Slow Dream

LOREN NERELL – SLOW DREAM
“Field recordings from the world of sleep” –  which prove to be Bali and Java (also the inspiration for many of Nerell’s earlier albums)
“Nerell’s four lengthy tracks are all-encompassing sonic environments primarily forged from extremely processed location recordings made during his trips to Bali. Rich drones and shimmering highlights skirt over the organic textures, processed and layered into subtle, delicate resonant spaces.”

Listening Mirror – On the Passing of Chavela

Chavela Vargas, “hailed for her haunting performances, and called ‘the rough voice of tendernes'” passed away august 5, 2012, at the age of 93.
 
She was an inspiration to many, but obviously also to Jeff Stonehouse,  a.k.a. Listening Mirror: 
“When I awoke, one Sunday morning, to learn of her passing, I took a deep breath, played ‘Paloma Negra’ one more time in her honour, and reached for my guitar…………” 

Brian Eno – Lux

Considering the musical background of the Godfather of Ambient / Generative Music, the introductory notes for Brian Eno‘s new album “Lux“ are extremely short.
Of course: for those interested, Brian Eno does not need any further introduction.

Compared to its two predecessors released on Warp Records, “Small Craft on a Milk Sea”  and “Drums Between the Bells”, this release is quite different. No relatively short poppy collaboration tracks this time: “Lux“ is a slowly developing, 75 minute composition.
A return to “classic ambient” form, the kind of “music for thinking” Eno has created from the early eighties. A genre that since then has further developed and has diverted into a lot of different branches: drone, dark ambient, dance ambient, improv, soundscapes, field recordings. Each sub-genre with their own leading artists venturing into new territories.  
But, at the very root of it all, there’s only one true Master.

Kreng – Works for Abbattoir Fermé


Kreng - Abattoir Ferme

When you realise that Kreng translates to ‘Carrion’ (or ‘Cadaver‘) and Abattoir Fermé means ‘closed down slaughterhouse’ , you know that you’re obviously not going to get a gentle new age treatment with this release.  

Following his two widely acclaimed previously releases L’Autopsie Phénomenale de Dieu (2009) and Grimoire (2011), Miasmah has now released a massive 4×12″ LP (+ 1×10″ that is not included in the digital download) boxset featuring music that Pepijn ‘Kreng’ Caudron created for various Abattoir Fermé theatre productions.

The set contains more than 3 hours of music (and that’s not even counting the 10″ containing music for the  “Monster” TV-series!). 

This music is “not for the faint of heart”. Definitely not. These sounds, in fact, may very well haunt you in your most frightening nightmares.
But as for cinematic (dark) ambient music, this is about the best, and most impressive, you will be able to find.

Berber Ox – Limiter


Limiter

Berber Ox is David Rutledge: a Sydney based radio-producer who, according to the sparse information available, “makes music that crosses genres such as Experimental, Drone, Dark Ambient, Power Electronics and Post Industrial often in the same track.”

With a description like that, you at least you have some indication of what to expect when listening to “Limiter“. And that’s a good thing, because you’d better be prepared!

Cello + Laptop – Parallel Paths


Parallel Paths

Cello + Laptop first got my attention with their beautiful track, “The Hunt”, featured on the “Escala 2.3” compilation.

This Spanish duo, consisting of Sara Galán (Cello) and Edu Comelles (Laptop) have now released their full debut album on the Envelope Collective label (“The label that is always slipping in the fold of the wave”).

“Parallel Paths“ easily exceeds the (high!) expectation I had based on the single track I knew from Escala 2.3.