Releasing a title called “Snow” not seem very appropriate in mid-may. But when the temperature rises, chances are you may need some cooling down…in which case this album may definitely help!
Olaf Tonstein is featured on about half of the (now 14) releases on the Klitorik netlabel (the one with the happy bees), and “Snow” is his latest.
Created as a soundtrack for the Bill Morrison movie depicting the disembling of the North East England’s mining community (the movie DVD will be released in june), this CD version is recorded live at the Durham Cathedral with a surprising cast of a 16-piece brass ensemble, church organ, percussion and electronics (the latter pre-recorded to catch the reverberation of the cathedral itself and use it in the recording).
No string section – in instrumentation and style Johannsson returns to the time of “Virthulegu Forsetar” (Touch, 2004).
The music that is presented on “Here Is Where We Used To Sing” is not the kind of music usually presented here on Ambientblog.
But ever since their impressive debut release “Neither Speak Nor Remain Silent” I have a weakness for all things Fovea Hex.
Apart from that, they are closely connected to the ambient music scene because of the musicians involved in the project, and expecially for the extremely mininal drone remixes that come with the special editions of their albums.
I guest most people listening to ambient and ‘post-classical’ music also have a special place in their heart for the music of Erik Satie. Or at least they should have.
The eccentric genius composer, or “phonometrician” as he called himself, “the laziest student in the (Paris)Conservatoire” (where he was labelled untalented by his teachers) has left the world some of the most impressive (and introspective) compositions – of which the Gymnopédies and the Gnossiennes are the most famous.
With his ideas about Musique d’ameublement (‘Furniture music’), Satie was one of the real predecessors of ‘ambient’ music.
So any double CD set offering reworkings of his music by some of the best artists in the contemporary experimental ambient/electronic genre immediately has my full interest!
“Cuts” is the first official release from Washington D.C.’s Dentist.
Lou DiBenedetto began recording as Dentist in 2007 as an outlet for his interest in synthesizers and affection for electronic musician Wolfgang Voigt’s work as Gas.
In this “shortlist” section, 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, they deserve your attention: use the links to find more info and hear previews.
Kyle Bobby Dunn – Ways of Meaning
“Kyle Bobby Dunn’s new full-length album is a treatise on the resonance of memory; an attempt to harness the finality of meaning as a shared experience.
Some moments recall church and choral music, others are anthemic in their own quiet way, and sadness finds warm overtones to help quell its cold nature. Spatial qualities are examined thoroughly; clarity is reached when viewing one’s surroundings. The environment comes into focus and a reverie encapsulates the listener.”
Will Long – When You Fall Out of Love with Me
The title in itself invokes the sad romantic mood for which this 18 minute track is the perfect soundtrack. Celer-style, in case you need any more recommendation.
Gareth Davis, Jan & Romke Kleefstra – Sieleslyk
“Jan and Romke Kleefstra are brothers, currently based in The Netherlands who have previously collaborated with Machinefabriek and Peter Broderick amongst many others. On Sieleslyk they are joined by British artist Gareth Davis (bass and contrabass clarinet) to make some ominous dynamic soundscapes using guitar, clarinet and spoken word.The spoken words of Jan Kleefstra are in Frisian, a minority language spoken in the north of The Netherlands.”
The physical edition is part of the Rural Colours Subscription Set, but non-subscribers can download the digital version for free! (!)
Like me, you have probably not heard about Adrian Aniol‚ before – unless maybe when you’re from Poland.
But if you are looking for haunting, dark, electronic soundscapes I strongly advise you to check out his debut release Arrythmia – which is available as a free download from Bandcamp.
Although it was created in March, this mix shows little signs of “Spring”.
There was no intentional relation, but inevitably the devastating Japan Earthquake, and the frightening nuclear disaster following it, somehow found its way into this mix.
The result: a rather dark overall atmosphere, which seems to leave little room for hope.
But at the same time, in Europe, winter retreats and daylight returns.
Nature shows that it can destroy as well as recuperate.
“The Realignment Series Part I, II and III” is a set of over two and a half hour of “Folding Drone Music”, as David Mekler (Sister Waize) himself calls it.
The impressive set is offered as a free download from his website, along with some suggestions on how to listen to this music to possibly achieve ‘a complete sense of separation from your physical surroundings’.
I can heartily recommend to download and listen to this set to anyone even remotely interested in drone music!
